Shandong Men’s Basketball Team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of this season’s playoffs. After a competitive Game 1 against the Shanghai Sharks, they were outclassed in Game 2, highlighting a significant gap in roster strength and depth. The offseason will see a major overhaul of the foreign player roster, with all four imports—Johnson, Chris, Purcell, and Jones—likely to be cut after disappointing postseason performances. On the domestic front, the key re-signings are guards Gao Shiyan and veteran big man Tao Hanlin, both of whom are on expiring max-salary contracts. While Gao’s extension appears straightforward, Tao has previously hinted at retirement, meaning the club will need to show strong commitment to retain him.
Now 35 years old, Tao Hanlin has spent 17 seasons with Shandong, making him an indisputable franchise legend. At his peak, he averaged 19.5 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game with a 60% field goal percentage, demonstrating elite finishing around the rim. This season, despite reduced minutes and touches, Tao remained effective. He played 41 regular-season games, averaging 20.9 minutes, 9 points, and 6.3 rebounds. In the playoffs, his averages rose to 27.8 minutes, 10.8 points, and 6.8 rebounds per game, maximizing his impact within his limited role.
In the two-game series against Shanghai, Tao battled against Whiteside,洛夫顿, and Wang Zhelin with relentless effort. He posted double-figures in both games—12 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1, followed by 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in Game 2. Every game, Tao gave his all, perhaps more than any other player, desperate to push the series to a decisive third game. Unfortunately, poor attitudes from the imports and insufficient roster depth prevented Shandong from advancing further.
Despite expressing thoughts of retirement earlier, Tao Hanlin is now expected to be offered a new max-salary deal as the club lacks a reliable young interior successor. Though 35, Tao’s conditioning remains solid—his pick-and-roll finishing, offensive rebounding, and rim protection are still dependable, making him a stabilizing force in the paint. For Shandong, retaining both Gao Shiyan and Tao Hanlin is essential. Head coach Qiu Biao’s plan to rebuild and compete next season hinges not only on signing elite foreign players but also on the contributions of these two core veterans.