Meet China's 7 Feet 3 Inches Tall Teen, Who Is Dominating The Basketball World

China’s rising basketball sensation, Zhang Ziyu, is capturing global attention with her towering presence at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup. With an impressive 7 feet 3 inches height, the 17-year-old made a spectacular debut this week. During the game, Zhang scored 19 points without missing a shot, alongside seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks in just 13 minutes against Indonesia.

Her impressive performance continued in the following game against New Zealand, where she dominated with 36 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, leading China to a crucial victory.

Zhang’s parents, too, were professional players in China.

Basketball enthusiasts around the globe were stunned to see Ziyu’s performance against Indonesia. Her exceptional skills and height have sparked discussions about her future in the WNBA. Since the video was shared online, it has gone viral and garnered over 3 Lakh views. Sharing the video, FIBA wrote, “Zhang Ziyu is HER. 17-year-old center (2,20cm/7’3”) registered 19 points and 7 rebounds on a perfect shooting (9/9) in her FIBA debut.”

Reacting to the game highlight, a user wondered, “She’s still 17 and tall, but I wonder if she’ll keep growing?”

Another joked, “This looks like an adult playing basketball with first graders.”

“She should take about 40 shots a game and you guys will win all possible championships,” a comment read.

An individual observed, “No dribbling because one of the shorter quicker players would snatch it.”

One more added, “I was hoping to see a dunk or two in the highlights.”

As per FIBA, after the game Zhang Ziyu said, “I don’t think too much about the future, because I need to experience every step by myself. I should be better firstly. My mother encouraged me to play basketball. Life is a wonderful journey. There are some things we can’t control. I regard it as a gift to me. And it’s OK. Everyone is different.”

Reports indicate that Zhang Ziyu experienced remarkable growth since her early years. Starting at 5 feet 2 inches tall in first grade, she reached 6 foot 9 by sixth grade and now she’s 7 foot 3. She’s just three inches shorter than Yao Ming, one of the tallest players in NBA history. Meanwhile, the average height of players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is around 6 feet.