Official Debut! Dominating Performance with a +17 Plus-Minus—The Most NBA-Ready Chinese Guard Yet

In a much-anticipated regular season debut in the Overtime Elite (OTE) League, Zhao Weiren, the third overall pick in the OTE draft, put on a standout performance for Cold Hearts, showing fans just how NBA-ready he might be. Zhao played 27 minutes, finishing with 14 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals while shooting 5-for-11 from the field, including an impressive 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. Although Cold Hearts eventually fell 87-92 to City Reapers, Zhao’s impact was undeniable—he led the team with a +17 plus-minus, marking a 17-point swing in Cold Hearts' favor whenever he was on the floor.

Zhao’s playing style and strengths are often compared to those of the Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Yuki Kawamura, as both are highly intelligent playmakers who excel at controlling the pace and generating opportunities for their teammates. However, Zhao offers a more favorable physical profile for the NBA. Standing at approximately 6’0” (1.83 meters)—about 10 centimeters taller than Kawamura—Zhao possesses dynamic athleticism, which includes a 3/4 court sprint time of 3.315 seconds, an agility drill time of 11.164 seconds, and a reaction shuttle drill time of 3.182 seconds. His vertical leap, a key indicator of his explosiveness, measures an impressive 92.71 centimeters, even slightly exceeding fellow OTE player Cui Yongxi’s 90.17 centimeters. These athletic indicators only strengthen Zhao’s position as an intriguing NBA prospect.

In previous international play, Zhao has already represented China at the FIBA U19 World Cup, where he averaged 9.9 points and 2.6 assists per game, along with a three-point shooting percentage of 46.2%. His standout performance came against Canada, where he went 9-for-10 from the field and erupted for 25 points. These numbers suggest that Zhao can be a formidable scorer when given the opportunity and could become an asset to China’s national team in future competitions. Due to his experience with China’s U19 squad, Zhao is classified as a "domestic player" for the Chinese national team, meaning he can only represent China in international competition. However, in the professional realm, Zhao has not yet had the opportunity to fully showcase his abilities under China's national team coach Guo Shiqiang, with his most notable appearance under Guo’s direction limited to a brief five-minute stint against the Macau Black Bears, where he scored six points.

The decision to join the OTE League rather than pursuing options in the EuroLeague or the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was a calculated move on Zhao’s part. He has reportedly viewed the OTE League as a launchpad for an eventual leap to the NBA, emulating the successful trajectories of players like Amen and Ausar Thompson, who were selected fourth and fifth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons, respectively. The OTE League, which has become known for developing high-caliber young talent, also helped prepare Alex Sarr, who played in OTE before being selected as the second overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2024 NBA Draft.

At just 19 years old, Zhao is still at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting professional career. With a background in Europe’s youth development system, a prestigious draft position in the OTE League, and promising athletic attributes, Zhao has every reason to aim high and pursue his NBA dream. Even if he ultimately falls short of making the NBA, Zhao’s experience in OTE will provide invaluable lessons, as well as the assurance that he took his best shot at the world’s most competitive basketball league.