He Xining has enjoyed a banner season. He led his team to a third-place finish in the regular season and earned his first career regular-season MVP award. While some doubted his ability to perform under playoff pressure, He has silenced critics with consistently high-level play in the postseason.
In the series against Zhejiang, facing national team guards like Wu Qian and Cheng Shuipeng, He proved he deserves a spot back on the national squad. In the game that saw Shenzhen defeat Zhejiang 95–91 to sweep the series 2–0 and advance to the semifinals, He delivered clutch shots whenever Zhejiang tried to rally. Playing 31 minutes and 45 seconds, he shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, leading all scorers with 23 points, along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. 
Although guard Smith struggled offensively (4-of-14 shooting), he shouldered the playmaking duties, finishing with a triple-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. The chemistry between He and Smith was evident, as He focused on scoring while Smith handled distribution. 
Despite a flawless performance, He provided a lighthearted moment when he attempted an awkward three-step layup during a fast break, drawing amused comments from fans: “He’s on the Top 5 Plays and the Top 5 Fails at the same time,” and “He’s been getting 9.9 ratings for so long – who else deserves the Finals MVP?”
With Shenzhen advancing to the semifinals, they await the winner of the Shanxi–Guangsha series. Given the team’s momentum and the reliable core of He and Smith, Shenzhen will be confident against either opponent. Should they reach the Finals, He has a strong chance at the FMVP, potentially achieving a “double MVP” season.
Through two playoff games, He is averaging 27.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33 minutes per game, with shooting splits of 65.5% from the field, 56.3% from three, and 88.9% from the free-throw line. These numbers are exceptional even by import standards. He’s proving to be the most dominant domestic shooting guard in the league, and barring injury, he has likely locked up a spot on the national team this summer.
