She doesn't even have to jump to score points: Zhang Ziyu is the greatest basketball player in the world

Zhang Ziyu effortlessly snatches the ball from the air and sinks it into the basket. What might seem like an effort for others seems like the easiest thing in the world for the Chinese basketball player. Even the opposing players looked a bit stunned when the 2-meter-26 tall basketball player recently scored 18 points in just a few minutes in a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The game marked Zhang's debut for the Chinese senior national team. Whether in the friendly or as a U-18 player, once Zhang gets the ball in her hands, her opponents have no chance. Videos show her putting the ball in the basket without even jumping into the air. How much talent lies behind Zhang's rapid rise—and how much does it have to do with her genes?

Zhang was born in 2007 in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, the daughter of former professional basketball players. Not only her passion for the sport, but also her height were practically inherited. Her father, Zhang Lei, is said to be around 2 meters 13 tall, and her mother, Yu Ying, is said to be a proud 1.98 meters tall. While Zhang Sr. played for a club in the city of Jinan, her mother, Yu, was active in the Chinese Women's Basketball League.

When Zhang Ziyu entered primary school, she was reportedly already 1.60 meters tall. She always stood out among her classmates – by the age of 12, she had already grown over the 2-meter mark.

Her exceptional height is undoubtedly an advantage, but Zhang has also demonstrated her ball skills for some time: At just 14, she made a splash at a national U-15 tournament, scoring 68 points, 25 rebounds, and 9 blocks in a single game. Last year, at the 2024 Asia Cup, she led the Chinese U-18 national team. Zhang was the top scorer, averaging over 35 points per game, and was named Most Valuable Player.

Following these successes, the world basketball governing body FIBA ​​called her a "Chinese phenomenon" and sees in her the potential to become the "future heart" of the Chinese national team. Her dominance on the court is remarkable.

Recently, Zhang made a lasting impression worldwide in her first game for China. In just 12 minutes, she scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds—numbers no other player achieves in an entire game. Even the opposing coach was impressed by Zhang's performance. Emir Halimić, the Bosnian coach, said she was "the best player I've ever seen."

The media and fans are already seeing the young basketball player as the potential "Next Yao Ming" and are comparing her to the tallest Chinese basketball player of all time, who was 2 meters 29 tall. Guinness World Records currently lists Turkey's Rumeysa Gelgi as the tallest woman in the world at 2 meters 15 centimeters, a mark that Zhang Ziyu undoubtedly surpasses. However, various estimates of her height exist. According to FIBA, she is 2 meters 20, while other sources say she is up to 6 centimeters taller.

NextGen Hoops, a basketball site on X, called Zhang a "cheat code" because she "barely broke a sweat" during one game. "Cheat codes" are often used to describe short inputs in video games that activate special advantages like infinite lives or superpowers.

But her greatest asset—her stature—also brings with it challenges. On the internet forum Reddit, there's a discussion about whether Zhang "doesn't jump to protect her joints." Some users claim that her coach asked her not to jump to prolong her career.

Zhang speaks about her height with an almost philosophical attitude: "Life is a wonderful journey. There are some things we can't control." She considers her height a gift. And that's okay, because everyone is different, she is quoted as saying in a FIBA ​​article.

Not only fans, but also coach Gong Luming believes Zhang will play a key role for Team China at the 2028 Olympic Games – provided she continues to develop her technique, athleticism, and fitness. Zhang herself also has clear international ambitions. Her goal is the WNBA, the women's professional league in North America. She is not expected to compete there until 2027 at the earliest, when she reaches the minimum age of 20.

Despite the growing attention, she remains calm. "I don't think much about the future—I have to take every step myself. First, I just want to get better," the International Basketball Federation quoted her as saying.

The talented young player will soon have the chance to gain further match practice. Starting on July 13, Zhang is expected to return to the field for China's senior national team at the Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen.