After a short video clip of Zhang Jiacheng playing basketball one-on-one went viral, the 13 year old boy with one hand immediately became an international sensation. In the clip, Zhang shows of brilliant ball handling and shooting skills.
Zhang’s video won over millions, including NBA star Stephen Curry. “Who is this kid? Help me fnd him! Keep doing you and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t,” Curry said on his Weibo page, posting Zhang’s short clip. Zhang later replied to Curry’s post, telling the two-time MVP how much he admires him. “Though you are not the biggest or strongest player in the NBA, you always fnd a way to succeed as one of the best players on the court,” Zhang wrote.
“Heart, is always the strongest part of the body,” said Yi Jianlian, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)’s all-time leading scorer, after watching the teenager’s short clip.
Born in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, Zhang’s life changed at 5 years old when he lost his right hand in an accident at his family’s mill.
He discovered his love for basketball in the summer of 2018 when he signed up for a basketball class at his school. Zhang trains at least three hours a day, his left arm bandaged during his practices. “My dream is to become a professional basketball player and devote my entire life to this sport,” the boy told the Nanfang Daily.
In September, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai invited Zhang to New York to watch games and practice with the players ahead of the upcoming season.
Zhang shoots a layup in a campus basketball game with senior students, Yunfu, Guangdong Province, June 4
Zhang tossess the jump ball at a CBA game between the Guangdong Southern Tigers and Shanxi Loongs, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, June 20
Father Zhang Beihai proudly gazes at his son at their home, Yunfu, Guangdong, June 4
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