Li Nan returns after ban

After serving a three-year suspension, coach Li Nan has officially returned to the basketball scene, appearing courtside as a technical advisor for the Beijing Men's Basketball Team to assist head coach Xu Limin.

On April 11 and April 13, 2023, during the CBA playoff series between the Shanghai and Jiangsu men's basketball teams (Round of 12 to 8), both teams were found guilty of passive play, leading to severe penalties handed down by the Chinese Basketball Association. Then-head coach of the Jiangsu Men’s Basketball Team, Li Nan, was banned from registering as a coach for three years, while then-head coach of the Shanghai Men’s Basketball Team, Li Chunjiang, received a five-year coaching ban. The official announcement was released on April 17, 2023. Li Nan's suspension formally ended on April 17, 2025.

In May 2024, Li Nan joined the Beijing coaching staff as a technical advisor, but due to his ongoing suspension at the time, he had not been allowed to appear on the sidelines during games. However, in the recent away game between Beijing and Shandong, Li Nan was seen courtside, marking his official return to the CBA coaching arena.