Zeng Fanbo (right) celebrates after scoring during a FIBA Asia Cup qualifier against Japan on February 20, 2025 in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province. Photo: VCG

Chinese basketball player Zeng Fanbo has joined the NBA franchise Brooklyn Nets, Zeng's management team confirmed in a statement on Sunday.

"Zeng plans to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, in another attempt to break into the NBA," said the statement released on Weibo. 

"The road ahead is long and arduous, and stepping out of one's comfort zone will certainly not be easy. However, in one's prime one should live with no regrets, going all out to realize one's dream," it said.

Initial reports suggested that Zeng, who was playing for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese basketball top-tier league CBA, was preparing to join the Nets on a one‑year non‑guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal. This is not the first time that Zeng joined an NBA team on such a contract. 

Zeng, 22, previously inked an Exhibit 10 agreement with the Indiana Pacers in late June 2022 after going undrafted, taking part in the NBA Summer League and training camp before ultimately being waived and returning to the CBA.

"It is a renewed attempt for Zeng to earn a roster spot or convert the deal into a two‑way contract before the 2025‑26 NBA regular season," Fu Zhenghao, a Beijing-based basketball commentator, told the Global Times. 

"No matter what considerations the Nets may have, Zeng must actively strive to convert the contract into a two-way contract as he faces considerable competitive pressure for a berth in the NBA team."

An Exhibit 10 contract allows an NBA club to carry a player through training camp without guaranteeing any salary or affecting the cap, but it must be converted to a two‑way contract before the regular season begins for the player to have NBA access. 

Zeng joins a growing trend of young Chinese players making basketball pushes overseas. 

More recently, center Yang Hansen of the Qingdao Eagles became only the third Chinese player ever chosen during the first round of the NBA Draft - No. 16 overall to join the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Center Yu Jiahao of Zhejiang Golden Bulls also announced on Friday that he will join Bilbao Basket in the Spanish league. 

Last season, guard Cui Yongxi held a two‑way role with the Nets before a torn anterior cruciate ligament knocked him out of the year. 

Zeng is expected to arrive stateside in late August to begin intensive workouts. The Nets are set to face off the Phoenix Suns in two preseason games in Macao in October as part of the NBA China Games.

During the 2024‑25 CBA season with the Beijing Ducks, Zeng posted career‑high shooting splits since 2022, as he was awarded the best progressive player. 

Unfortunately, in Game 2 of the CBA semifinals when he was playing for the Ducks, he suffered a lumbar transverse‑process fracture, abruptly ending his season.