China Basketball Team's Buzzer-Beater Over Japan! Goodbye, Ding Yanyuhang—Another Forward on the Path to the NBA?

In a thrilling encounter during the U18 FIBA Asia Cup, China’s young basketball team secured a dramatic 68-66 victory over Japan, propelled by a last-second three-pointer from Duan Ruiqi. This win, which saw China finish the group stage unbeaten, showcased not only the team’s resilience but also the emerging talent of Zhang Boyuan, a potential future NBA forward.

China entered the match brimming with confidence, having dominated Kazakhstan 86-50 in the opening game and steamrolled Qatar 99-43 in their second contest. Despite these blowouts, the game against Japan provided a stark reality check, exposing vulnerabilities that the Chinese team will need to address as they head into the knockout stages.

The Game: A Rollercoaster Battle

China started strong against Japan, taking an early lead, but their dominance quickly evaporated. Japan rallied, flipping the scoreline and going into halftime with a 38-31 lead. The third quarter saw China’s struggles continue, falling behind by double digits at one point. However, the Chinese squad, led by Zhang Boyuan, displayed incredible resilience. They clawed their way back in the final quarter, closing the gap, and eventually overtaking Japan late in the game.

With only seconds remaining on the clock and China trailing by a point, Zhang Boyuan drove into the paint, drawing defenders and kicking out the ball to an open Duan Ruiqi. Despite struggling all game with his shooting, Duan buried a clutch three-pointer, sealing China’s 68-66 victory over Japan. This buzzer-beater not only clinched the game but also highlighted Duan's ability to perform under pressure, redeeming himself after a lackluster performance throughout the match.

The victory means China finishes the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, securing the top spot in the group and a much more favorable path in the knockout stages.

A Mixed Performance

While the victory is worth celebrating, China’s performance raised several red flags. Despite their size advantage, China was outrebounded 36-25 by a smaller Japanese team. This is particularly concerning, given that rebounding should have been one of their strengths. The game revealed that while China’s outside shooting can carry them through some games, relying too heavily on perimeter play may backfire in future matchups. Japan struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 13 three-pointers, and yet they still pushed China to the brink.

One of the game’s biggest disappointments was center Xun Sinan, who struggled under constant double teams. As China’s interior anchor and a highly-touted prospect (he’s a four-star high school player in the U.S. and considered a future NBA prospect), Xun was expected to dominate the paint. However, Japan’s defense stifled him, leading to one of his worst performances of the tournament. His frustrations on the offensive end seemed to carry over to other aspects of his game, as he finished with the worst plus-minus on the team at -9. Xun’s potential is undeniable, but this game was a reminder that he still has room to grow, especially when facing pressure from physical, well-prepared defenses.

Zhang Boyuan: China's Next NBA Hope?

If there was a silver lining for China in this hard-fought win, it was the continued rise of Zhang Boyuan. The forward has been nothing short of sensational throughout the tournament, and against Japan, he once again rose to the occasion. Zhang finished with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks, displaying his all-around game and ability to step up when his team needed him the most.

Zhang’s clutch performance is drawing comparisons to some of China’s greatest basketball talents. As a four-star recruit who hasn’t even played a single game in the U.S., his potential is already garnering NBA attention. Many believe that Zhang Boyuan could be China’s first true NBA forward—a milestone that has eluded the country despite producing a number of great players.

While China has sent several notable players to the NBA, most of them have been big men like Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Zhou Qi. Even forward-sized players like Sun Yue and Cui Yongxi were often utilized as guards due to their skill sets and the needs of their teams in the NBA. The closest China has come to producing an NBA forward was Ding Yanyuhang, who won consecutive MVP awards in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) during his prime. Ding had the talent to play in the NBA and was offered two-way contracts with the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets, but he ultimately chose to stay in China.

Zhang Boyuan, however, seems poised to succeed where Ding fell short. His game, which combines size, athleticism, and a knack for coming up big in clutch moments, is well-suited for the modern NBA. The fact that his idol is Ding Yanyuhang only adds to the narrative that Zhang could fulfill the dream that Ding couldn’t realize: becoming China’s first true NBA forward.

The Road Ahead for Team China

With the group stage behind them, China now faces the knockout rounds with more momentum and confidence. By finishing first in their group, they’ve avoided an early matchup against powerhouses like Australia or New Zealand, both of which are expected to be the biggest hurdles in the tournament. While the Japanese game exposed some of China’s flaws, it also showed their resilience and ability to close out tight games—an essential trait as the competition intensifies.

If China can shore up their rebounding and Xun Sinan can bounce back from his rough outing, they have a legitimate chance to finish on the podium. A bronze medal is almost guaranteed at this point, but with Zhang Boyuan leading the way, China could have their eyes set on even more.

The U18 team’s performance is also a critical building block for the future of Chinese basketball. The emergence of players like Zhang and Duan Ruiqi provides a glimpse into the next generation of talent that could lead the national team for years to come. For Zhang Boyuan in particular, this tournament might just be the beginning of a career that eventually takes him to the NBA.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Zhang to see if he can continue to deliver in high-pressure situations. If he does, there’s a very real chance that Zhang Boyuan could follow in the footsteps of his idol Ding Yanyuhang—but take it one step further by finally breaking through as China’s first NBA forward.