The Brooklyn Nets have been on a talent-acquisition roll during the summer of 2024. After some early moves following Mikal Bridges' trade to the New York Knicks, the Nets signed three promising guards ahead of training camp. One of those guards was coveted Chinese prospect Yongxi "Jacky" Cui.
Cui and the Nets agreed on a two-way contract, the team announced on Sep. 20. Cui joins the Nets highly-regarded as a former member of the NBA's Global Academy. He later played two seasons in the CBA with the Guangzhou Lions, where he saw promising improvement. Brooklyn's move to sign Cui is mutually beneficial. The Nets get a young player with promising potential, and Cui gets to test his talent and further develop against stout competition in the NBA.
After signing his deal with the Nets, Cui spoke about how the opportunity to play in the NBA is essential to his growth as a player.
"Since the salary is about the same as in the CBA, but I get the opportunity to play on such a prestigious platform, it's a great deal," Cui began in a statement, via XinhuaNet. "I'm not at the age where I think much about money."
"My mindset is in a good place. I don't know how long I'll be able to play here, but I believe the longer I stay, the more I can improve and help both myself and the Chinese national team," Cui added.
Yongxi Cui sounds ready to take advantage of his opportunity, and Nets fans cannot wait to see how his stint with the team goes.
Yongxi Cui: An offensive threat with disrupting defensive potential
In his first year with the Lions in 2022-23, Cui averaged 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot an earnest 37.1 percent on his three-pointers. Then, he lept to averages of 15.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, shooting 35.9 percent from range during the 2023-24 season.
Cui went undrafted in 2024, but he did earn a spot on the Portland Trail Blazers' Summer League roster. The 6'6" guard possesses a 6'9" wingspan and a 34" max vertical leap. Thus, in addition to his offensive prowess, Cui can be highly disruptive on defense. His length and reach also help him snag a healthy amount of rebounds.
One of Cui''s most promising performances of 2024 came during Ghuangzou's 123-113 victory over the Zhejiang Bulls on Jan. 18, where he scored a whopping 31 points and pulled down 10 boards:
As Cui starts his journey in the NBA, he looks to grow his game and further cement himself as a valuable piece for all the teams he competes for.