Guo, who was called up to the national team in 2010 at just 16, has silenced critics who accused him of lacking maturity by averaging 23.1 points, four rebounds and eight assists－figures that saw him rival eventual winner Wu Qian of the Zhejiang Golden Bulls for the regular-season MVP award.

As the Rookie of the Year, Zhang's versatility covering both ends of the floor as a stretch defender and rim attacker has instantly thrust him into the conversation about being a future national team leader. He averaged 17 points and seven rebounds in his finals debut.

"To lose for the second time in a row is painful," said Liaoning head coach Yang Ming after the final game.

"Yet we shall hold our heads up leaving the arena knowing that our young guys have had some valuable lessons to grow and return stronger next year."

In a bid to give homegrown talents more minutes, especially in clutch time, the CBA further limited the use of foreign players this term, allowing teams to play only one import for all four quarters－down from two for half a game－against a rival that also has imports at its disposal.

A league once dominated by ex-NBA players on the offensive end, the CBA has seen local players rise to leadership roles in multiple title-contending franchises, such as semifinalists the Shangdong Heroes and the Golden Bulls. The consensus is that the extra time on court has helped hone the youngsters' scoring efficiency and playmaking abilities, raising hopes for an upturn in the national team's fortunes.

Yao, who led Team China to its Olympic-best eighth-place finish at the 2008 Beijing Games, reckons the success of the league's player development program bodes well for the future.

"Thanks to our clubs' increasing attention and investment in the talent system and youth training, we've had a new generation of quality young players emerge," said Yao, a former NBA All-Star who was elected CBA chief in 2017.

"Our efforts to adjust the foreign policy and to extend the season are paying off. Our league will remain vibrant as long as we keep testing and developing our young players."