It's confirmed! Leonard will face off against the Chinese top draft pick! NBA All-Star joins Guangzhou team

Here he comes.

The superstar is ready to make an appearance.

Leonard confirmed in an interview that he will play in the Clippers vs. Guangzhou preseason game.

Notably, during his earlier visit to China, Leonard enthusiastically coached Guangzhou's promising young player Zhang Wenjie in person.

Having arrived in the U.S., the Guangzhou team is fully prepared, facing the Spurs first (October 7), then the Clippers (October 10), and finally the Timberwolves (October 14). All three opponents are tough and highly competitive.

The local players representing Guangzhou in the NBA preseason are led by the 2023 CBA top draft pick Chen Guohao and the five-star high school prospect Zhang Wenjie, while Guo Ailun and Xu Xin will be absent.

In addition, Guangzhou has recruited six strong foreign players for the preseason, including two-time NBA All-Star guard Victor Oladipo.

Clearly, Guangzhou, which isn't even a strong team in the CBA, is destined to suffer heavy defeats against these three NBA powerhouses. Nevertheless, they are determined to fight bravely and, most importantly, provide their young domestic players with growth opportunities by competing against the world’s most advanced basketball philosophies.

Don’t expect the NBA teams to treat the visiting CBA team kindly; once on the court, it’s a fierce battle to the finish with no mercy. Of course, Guangzhou won’t hold back either—everyone giving their all is the greatest respect they can show each other.

The NBA preseason is like the final rehearsal before the regular season. Contracted players need to find their rhythm, while unsigned players are fighting for jobs. Because everyone is working hard, clashes and conflicts are inevitable.

In the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves preseason game ending 116-126, Jokic made a hand motion with the ball that hit Gobert’s face, prompting Gobert to retaliate by shoving Jokic away. The two then exchanged some heated words.

In the Lakers vs. Warriors preseason game ending 103-111, after Draymond Green and Vanderbilt both fell, Green was the first to stand and confront Vanderbilt, but teammates quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.

If the preseason games are this intense, imagine how explosive the regular season will be—let’s wait and see.