Fanbo Zeng, one of the top prospects in China, has agreed to a contract with the Nets, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Zeng, 22, is a 6’10” forward who’s coming off a productive season with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
In 2020, Zeng announced his intention to play college basketball at Gonzaga, but he changed his mind the following spring and committed to the G League Ignite. He appeared in 19 total games for the former independent G League team during the 2021/22 season.
He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pacers the following summer and played five games for them during Summer League, but he returned to China that fall.
Zeng injured his back in late April during a CBA contest and decided to pull out of the FIBA Asia Games, which start next weekend, according to NetsDaily. The injury, diagnosed as a lumbar transverse process fracture, normally comes with a two- to three-month recovery process, so he should be fine by the start of training camp.
Zeng hired American agents three months ago in an effort to revive his NBA prospects, NetsDaily continues. He should be a featured attraction when Brooklyn travels to Macao in October for two exhibition games against Phoenix.
Scotto doesn’t provide any details about Zeng’s contract, but it may be an Exhibit 10 deal with an invitation to participate in training camp. The Nets already have 10 players with standard contracts, along with three more expected signings and four other players with non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals. They have one open two-way slot, so Zeng could be in position to compete for that.