Who Is Zhang Ziyu, the Unbelievable 7’3″ Sensation Shocking the Basketball World? | NBA News
Imagine stepping into a gym and spotting someone who is physically two feet taller than anyone else. That’s Zhang Ziyu, a 17-year-old Chinese basketball prodigy who stands an impressive 7 feet 3 inches (2.20 meters) tall and has become the internet’s current fascination.Zhang Ziyu, an eighteen-year-old 7’3″ (some say 7’5″) centre from China, just signed with Shandong in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA), where she will play with a number of talents such as Kamilla Cardoso and Natasha Howard.
The extraordinary 7’3″ teen prodigy Zhang Ziyu is rising fast as China’s most dominant new basketball star.
As a 17-year-old basketball player, Zhang Ziyu’s personal life revolves around her budding career, training, and her family’s basketball past. Her private life is distinct from the more famous life of the actress Zhang Ziyi, who was married to Wang Feng and has two children.Zhang Ziyu is from the Shandong province of China. She is the daughter of basketball players and is most well-known for her amazing height. She was 5’2″ in first grade and 6’9″ by the time she was twelve. She practically towered above her classmates, and her stature became her superpower on the court.Zhang, born on May 1, 2007, in Jinan, Shandong Province, was destined to stand out. Zhang’s parents are both former professional basketball players, with her father standing approximately 7 feet and her mother standing at 6 feet 6 inches. It’s no wonder that she rose to prominence. Zhang began competing in the Chinese National Basketball program at the age of 14, and her first international experience came in 2024 with Team China in the U18 Women’s Asian Cup. She dominated with an average of 35 points and 13 rebounds, earning the tournament MVP award. With a height of 7’3″, she quickly became one of China’s most popular athletes before turning 18.
Zhang Ziyu’s stunning rise continues as the sensation earns All-Star honors before even making her WCBA debut
Despite never having played in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA), she was chosen to compete in the 2025 WCBA All-Star Game. She competed for the Northern Conference Team and, at only 17 years old, dominated premier players from China and around the world. She scored 17 points on 80% shooting from the field, demonstrating her ability to compete at the highest level of Chinese basketball. At halftime, Zhang was presented with a signed basketball by FIBA Hall of Famer Zheng Haixa (6’8″) and former WNBA player Han Xu (6′ 11″) as a tribute to the tradition of Chinese bigs.She dominated at the National U15 Championship at the age of 14 and continued to do so in provincial play, scoring 68 points and 24 rebounds. On December 1, Zhang Ziyu joined her hometown team, Shandong Six Stars. The WCBA season has barely begun, so she’ll have to wait approximately a month to play her first game, which will be one of the most anticipated debuts in Chinese basketball history. The Six Stars, formerly Satou Sabally’s side, are currently the betting favorites to win the title. Also read:
