Fanbo Zeng is looking forward to the challenge of making the NBA, his second shot.
Just as Saturday night’s game vs. Hapoel Jerusalem will be a big deal for Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, next week’s two games in Macao will be a big deal for Fanbo Zeng, bigger in fact. While Saraf and Wolf may be playing against friends and colleagues from Israel, Zeng (his family name) will be going home … or close enough.
Zeng is from Harbin, an industrial city near the Russian border in the country’s far northeast. Macao, the Las Vegas of the people’s republic, is across the bay from Hong Kong, 1,800 miles to the south. That said, the 6’11” 22-year-old is well-known throughout the country, a member of the Chinese national team who was both Most Improved Player and first team All-CBA, a rising star.
In an interview with Brian Lewis Friday, Zeng said he plans to give 100% whenever he gets on the court whether it’s Saturday at Barclays Center against Hapoel Jerusalem or next week in Macao vs. Phoenix Suns. All three games will be broadcast live in China as well as in the U.S.
“It will be so big for me, especially to play as part of this [Nets] family,” Zeng told the Post. “And playing in part of China is huge for me. No matter what I’ve got, I’ll go 100 percent every single second.
“And especially [since] we’ve got 21 on the roster right now, that’s a big fight for me, especially [after] in the summer I had a [back] injury. I’m enjoying the whole process. So no matter if it’s in Macau or whatever, since I got a chance to play, I’ll go 100 percent, go hard.”
Zeng is currently on an Exhibit 10 deal, a camp invite without a contract, but is seen as a strong candidate for the vacant third two-way. The Nets currently have Tyson Etienne and E.J. Liddell on two-ways.
“We’ve got a lot of good players and we’re all fighting for something: Some of whom are fighting for a starting spot, some for the rotation. Like me, I’m fighting for a two-way or getting on the roster,” Zeng explained to Lewis. “I’ve been going through the summer, all I did was try to prove myself and just get the chance.”
Zeng noted that this is his second chance at the NBA. In October 2021, Zeng reneged on a commitment to Gonzaga and instead signed with the G League Ignite of the NBA G League. He went undrafted in 2022 and two days after the draft, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers.
“I had a chance before , and I missed it. The second chance, it was huge for me trying to even get it. Just got to keep fighting, keep working hard… I just keep doing my thing. I’ve got a long career, looking to get another shot. But this time I’m going for it.”
Indeed after he didn’t make the Pacers, he headed back to China where he played for the Beijing Ducks for three years before joining Brooklyn the day before Media Day.
While some fans might see Zeng’s time in Brooklyn as part of the team’s international marketing effort, particularly with Joe Tsai as principal owner and just before the trip to China, Zeng has said repeatedly that he sees this as an opportunity to play in the NBA. It’s a dream he’s harbored at least since he came to the U.S. to play high school ball, making first team All-Star in Florida as a sophomore.
He’s developed a lot since he averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 boards in 13.6 minutes for G League Ignite in 2021-22. As Lewis points out, Zeng now weighs 228 pounds, up from less than 200 back then.
Zeng told Lewis he hasn’t had a chance to meet Joe Tsai yet but is aware of the franchise’s unique connection to China where they are generally seen as the third most popular NBA team. This will be the fourth time — eight games — the Nets have played in China over the last 15 years. No other team has visited three times. And of the nine Chinese players who’ve made it to the NBA, three played for the Nets: Yi Jianlian, Jacky Cui and now Zeng.
What if he doesn’t make it, Lewis asked Zeng. He said he’d return to China confident he did all he could, adding that he’s fighting to help break down stereotypes to help the next crop of young Asian players coming up behind him.
In the meantime, the Nets and NBA are going to promote him on their page on Weibo, the big Chinese social media site, posting stills and even a video of his time at this weekend’s Practice in the Park. Chinese fans will get their first look at Zeng in a Nets uniform Saturday. Chinese TV is carrying the Nets game vs. Hapoel Jerusalem live – 8:00 a.m. Beijing time Sunday.
- Nets signee Zeng Fanbo ready to go ‘100 percent’ during China homecoming ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
Category: General Sports
