In 2025, they lost to Guangsha and Hongyuan successively, which will brew the next peak of the Liaoning team.

2025 may be the most "rugged" year in the Liaoning team's journey in recent years. In the semi-finals of the CBA League, the Zhejiang Guangsha team attacked with an obsession for revenge and blocked the defending Liaoning team from the finals, allowing their opponents to fulfill their long-cherished wish. Moving to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area National Games, the Liaoning team lost to their old rivals Guangdong and Sichuan in the competition, and ultimately missed the medal. The two core events throughout the year failed to gain the expected honors. For a time, voices such as "the competitiveness of the Liaoning team has declined" and "the golden generation is gradually becoming lonely" were heard constantly. Many people defined this year as the "year of frustration" for the Liaoning team.

But for fans who truly understand Liaoning basketball and have witnessed the ups and downs of this team, 2025 is by no means a simple "footnote of failure", but more like an extraordinary tempering and precipitation. There is no eternal victorious general in the basketball world, just as the charm of competitive sports lies in the uncertainty of victory or defeat. The Liaoning team once reached the top with its iron-blooded defense, tacit cooperation and a group of talented players. The pride engraved in the bones is not only the motivation for the team to move forward, but it also inevitably breeds some impetuosity in good times.

The continuous setbacks in 2025 are like a basin of cold water, causing this proud team to fall from the clouds and truly touch the cruelty and reality of competitive sports. It made the Liaoning team understand that in today's CBA and National Games arena, every team is growing rapidly. The tenacity of Zhejiang Guangsha, the integrated heritage of the three Guangdong teams, and the financial impact of the Sichuan team all confirm the truth of "sail against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat" - no one can rely on the glory of the past once and for all. Only by maintaining a sense of awe can we move forward steadily.

More importantly, behind this "frustration" lies the infinite hope for the Liaoning team's future rise. As the saying goes, "Only when you pierce the deep darkness can you see the light of dawn." The hibernation in 2025 provides the Liaoning team with a rare "window of self-reflection." They were able to break away from the shackles of the "championship halo" and calmly examine their own shortcomings: Is it a lack of ability to attack critical moments? Or are there flaws in the lineup depth and rotation connection? Or is the tactical adjustment not flexible enough when facing opponents of different styles? These problems that were covered up in good times became clearly visible in the mirror image of failure. The exposure of the problem itself is the first step in solving the problem, which can promote the growth of the team far more than a "painless victory".

At the same time, the 2025 competition also allowed the Liaoning team to see clearly the strongest challenge in the future journey and set clear goals for the next season's sprint. The Beijing team has combined Zhao Rui's toughness, Chen Yingjun's connection, Zhou Qi's inside dominance and Zeng Fanbo's explosive talent to form a luxurious team that can be called a "dream lineup" and has become the favorite to win the league. The old rival Guangdong team still continues to have a strong and balanced lineup. Xu Jie's sophistication, Jiao Boqiao's inside vitality, and Cui Yongxi's offensive and defensive versatility keep them competitive in the championship. These powerful opponents are not only "blockers" in the Liaoning team's path forward, but also "catalysts" to stimulate the team's potential.

After experiencing the precipitation and reflection in 2025, the Liaoning team has lost some impetuousness and become more calm and tenacious. They will regard the defeat in 2025 as a valuable asset, think deeply about the difficulties encountered, and make thorough preparations for the response: polishing tactical details, making up for the shortcomings of the lineup, tempering the players' psychological quality, and allowing every team member to transform in the pain of defeat. The desire for the championship has never diminished due to temporary frustration. Instead, it has become more intense in the tempering of the dark night.

Therefore, 2025 is not the "end" for the Liaoning team, but the "starting point" for them to regroup and start again. When this iron-blooded team regroups in the 2025-2026 season with the lessons of defeat and undying faith, we have reason to believe that the ups and downs and setbacks they have experienced will turn into armor for them to overcome obstacles; the strength accumulated in the darkness will eventually shine with dazzling light when dawn comes. The Liaoning team's road to championship may be destined to be full of thorns, but this persistence in adversity is the most touching background of Liaoning basketball - and their next peak is already quietly brewing after the dark night.