Chinese Basketball Star Zeng Fanbo Joins Brooklyn Nets in Pursuit of NBA Dream

Chinese basketball athlete Zeng Fanbo has made the decision to join the NBA franchise Brooklyn Nets, according to a recent statement from his management team. The statement, shared via Weibo, highlighted Zeng's ambition to enter the NBA, acknowledging that the journey will be challenging and that stepping outside one's comfort zone is crucial. It emphasized living life to the fullest and pursuing dreams without regrets during one's prime.

Before this new opportunity, Zeng was with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and had previously signed a similar Exhibit 10 agreement with the Indiana Pacers after going undrafted in June 2022. His latest contract with the Nets is an effort to secure a position on the roster or transition his deal into a two-way contract by the start of the 2025-26 NBA regular season, according to basketball commentator Fu Zhenghao.

An Exhibit 10 contract permits an NBA team to roster a player for training camp without guaranteed pay or affecting the salary cap, but it requires conversion to a two-way contract for the player to gain access to the NBA. This trend of young Chinese players moving to international basketball arenas continues to grow, with notable instances such as Yang Hansen being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers and Yu Jiahao signing with Bilbao Basket in Spain.

Zeng is expected to arrive in the United States by late August to begin rigorous training sessions as he prepares for the upcoming season. The Brooklyn Nets will participate in two preseason games against the Phoenix Suns in Macao in October as part of the NBA China Games. During the recently concluded 2024-25 CBA season with the Beijing Ducks, Zeng performed exceptionally well, achieving career-best shooting metrics and winning the title of best progressive player, although his season was cut short due to a lumbar injury in the semifinals.