No more! Announcing withdrawal from the Asian Cup! The Chinese forward with the greatest potential to play in the NBA

If Liu Chuanxing had not turned sideways or had been better protected, Zeng Fanbo might have had an incredibly perfect summer.

The tragic scene above occurred during this year's playoff semifinals between Beijing and Shanxi in Game 2, and Zeng Fanbo has yet to recover from his injury.

If Zeng Fanbo had not been injured, Beijing might have been the CBA champion this year.

If Zeng Fanbo had not been injured, his original plan was to participate in this year's NBA Summer League to secure a contract and fulfill his dream of entering the highest basketball arena in the world.

If Zeng Fanbo had not been injured, he would have continued as the starting core at the 4 position, giving his all to help the Chinese men's basketball team compete for the Asian Cup championship, instead of having to regretfully withdraw.

Unfortunately, there are no ifs; ifs are meaningless.

Last season, Zeng Fanbo had an outstanding season, meeting the high expectations placed on him by the outside world, averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks in the regular season, with shooting percentages of 52.6% and 40.5%; in the playoffs, he averaged 15 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1.6 blocks, with shooting percentages of 56.3% and 43.3%.

Especially in the pursuit of the NBA, Zeng Fanbo is likely the most suitable player among all Chinese wings to play in the NBA. Standing at 2.08 meters, he can defend all positions on the court, has precise long-range shooting, explosive athleticism, quick shot-blocking awareness, and a certain level of ball-handling skills, making him a very high-quality 3D forward adaptable to any team and system.

Entering the NBA with the excellent form he displayed last season in the CBA & FIBA was supposed to be a promising year for fulfilling his dreams. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, a heavy fall changed everything, and Zeng Fanbo is already 22 years old; this summer might be his best or perhaps last opportunity.

At the end of June this year, after learning that Yang Hanshen was selected 16th overall by the Blazers, Zeng Fanbo immediately sent his congratulations: “Congratulations on achieving your dream, and I hope you can continue to represent our country in the NBA.”

Before Yang Hanshen emerged, Zeng Fanbo was considered the Chinese player with the greatest potential to enter the NBA. He participated in the draft in 2022 but unfortunately went undrafted!