The 2025-26 CBA playoffs are heating up, and several players who faced heavy criticism during the regular season have finally silenced doubters with outstanding performances on the high-stakes postseason stage. Here are three standout examples who truly proved their value.
**1. Hu Mingxuan (Guangdong Southern Tigers)**
From the start of the regular season to its end, Hu Mingxuan was constantly questioned. His struggles were evident: inconsistent offense with a dismal 34.6% field goal percentage, limited playmaking with just three assists per game, and 1.3 turnovers. But in the playoffs, Hu transformed into one of the team’s most reliable and efficient players.
Over five postseason appearances, he shot an incredible 51.9% from three-point range. In two do-or-die elimination games, he stepped up to rescue his team from the brink. As a popular online saying goes, Hu “fooled everyone in the regular season and struck back in the playoffs.”
**2. Chen Linjian (Shandong Heroes)**
After joining
