Unlike Princepal Singh, who was on Ignite last season largely for the media attention he brought the NBA’s efforts in his native India, Zeng is a top prospect. Zeng, 18, plays as a forward for the NBA G League Ignite. A 7-foot-1 center who lacked strength, Qi looked overwhelmed in 19 games with Yao’s old team before he returned home.įanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Zhou Qi, a second-round pick by the Rockets in 2016, is the lone Chinese-born player drafted since Yao retired. In the more than decade since Yao retired, China - the NBA’s top overseas market - has been desperate for someone, anyone, to replace Yao as a global name.Īn estimated 300 million people play basketball in China, but just six Chinese players have reached the NBA, with Yao the only one to have carved out a notable career. Still three months shy of his 19th birthday, Zeng is poised to announce a lucrative shoe deal.Ĭhina-based companies hardly care that the COVID-19 pandemic has kept him from playing a competitive game in nearly two years. Zeng’s Instagram inbox is filled with messages from Chinese fans who hope he can become the next Yao Ming. Though Zeng isn’t as prized by NBA scouts as teammates Jaden Hardy, Michael Foster, Scoot Henderson and Dyson Daniels, he might have a bigger following. One of Ignite’s big draws is the increased marketing opportunities that come with being a professional. On a sunny Thursday afternoon at Ignite’s Walnut Creek headquarters, Zeng had just finished shooting a video with a website that specializes in luxury sneakers. “LeBron is the GOAT,” said Fanbo Zeng, a 6-foot-11, 197-pound combo forward who recently de-committed from Gonzaga to sign with NBA G League Ignite - a developmental team created last year to provide elite prospects an alternative to college basketball. The future of Chinese basketball speaks near-flawless English, devours Chick-fil-A spicy chicken sandwiches whenever he gets the chance, and doesn’t want to hear arguments about why Michael Jordan was better than LeBron James. Courtesy of Windermere Prep Show More Show Less Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 8 of8įanbo Zeng dunks during a game his sophomore year at Windermere Prep outside Orlando in 2020. Courtesy of Windermere Prep/ Show More Show Less 7 of8įanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 6 of8įanbo Zeng poses with the Chinese flag while at Windermere Prep outside Orlando. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 5 of8įanbo Zeng’s sneaker seen during practice at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 4 of8įanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of8įanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of8įanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct. Fanbo Zeng practices at the Ultimate Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Oct.
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