When NBA stars cross oceans, they bring the spectacle of basketball culture to life. From Kobe Bryant filling arenas in Beijing to LeBron James drawing massive streetball crowds in Shanghai, China has long been a stage where global icons meet passionate local talent. This tradition continued when Golden State Warriors enforcer Draymond Green laced up for an unexpected one-on-one battle in China. But the real buzz was about his challenger: Chen Zewen, a name that might not resonate with NBA fans but echoes loudly in China’s streetball community.

Who is Chen Zewen?

Chen Zewen  is a Chinese streetball player who carved an unlikely path to the spotlight. Before basketball defined his life, Chen actually worked as a mechanic, a humble beginning that makes his rise in the streetball scene all the more compelling. According to sports.sina.cn, by the time he was about 20 years old, he stood 186 cm tall and weighed 76 kg, giving him a balanced frame for both quickness and strength on the court.

He is originally from Jieyang, Guangdong Province, and studied at the Guangdong Sports Vocational Technical College, where his game began to gain attention. Unlike players who dream of entering the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Chen chose the path of grassroots competition, establishing his name through passion and persistence on the streetball circuit.

What is Chen Zewen’s ethnicity?

Chen Zewen is of Han Chinese ethnicity, the largest ethnic group in China. His family background ties him to Guangdong, a province with a rich basketball tradition and vibrant grassroots sports culture. While little has been publicly disclosed about his parents or extended family, Chen’s identity is firmly rooted in his Chinese nationality and his pride in representing local basketball talent.

Chen Zewen family background

Chen Zewen’s family life remains private, but his journey is deeply connected to his hometown in Jieyang, Guangdong. Guangdong is widely considered a hotbed for basketball in China, producing numerous professional and street-level stars, and Chen’s emergence from this region reflects the strength of its grassroots hoops culture.

Chen Zewen’s basketball career & streetball journey

Chen’s rise in basketball came not from professional academies or league systems but from streetball tournaments, particularly China’s well-known “King of the Street” competition. This grassroots platform has spotlighted some of the most skilled streetball players in the country, and Chen quickly became one of its standout figures.

By 2019, Chen had already won 15 “King of the Street” titles, cementing his reputation as one of the fiercest competitors in the format. His defining moment came when he captained a Chinese streetball team to victory over a Lebanon-led squad featuring former CBA foreign imports, proving that streetball talent could match up against established professionals.

Draymond Green vs. Chen Zewen – Why This Matchup Matters

The one-on-one matchup between Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion, and Chen Zewen, a homegrown streetball legend, symbolizes the merging of two basketball worlds.  The event was a “FIRST TO 100 POINTS” game, with Green participating to help promote the development of Chinese basketball. The Warriors star teamed up with another player named Slim against Chen Zewen and his partner Cheng Xinkai. 

Previously in April, Zewen had played a similar game against Derrick Rose, which he ended up losing 101-64. Regardless, for Green, the contest was part of a long tradition of NBA stars traveling to China for exhibitions and fan engagement. For Chen, it was the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to test his game against one of the NBA’s fiercest defenders and show the credibility of China’s streetball scene on an international stage.

For Chen, the matchup was the latest in a string of opportunities to measure himself against the game’s elite. Over the years, he has played one-on-one against NBA stars like Derrick Rose, Paul George, and Isaiah Thomas, contests that boosted his reputation and proved that China’s streetball talent could go toe-to-toe with world-class professionals.

Chen Zewen’s story is one of transformation and determination. While he may not have the household name of NBA stars or the resume of CBA professionals, Chen’s journey resonates with fans because it proves that passion and perseverance can create legends outside the mainstream spotlight.