In the recent CBA playoffs, the Guangdong team won 120-100 against Guangsha, and a new star in this game is eye-catching - Zhang Mingchi. Despite being only 22 years old, he was outstanding in this crucial game, contributing nine points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes, six of which were offensive rebounds, showing his ability to compete for the basket. This performance not only impressed the majority of fans with him, but even some fans publicly apologized to him for this, completely changing the previous evaluation of him.
Zhang's basketball journey is a classic "dark horse" story, from being universally underrated to gradually gaining recognition, and his trajectory proves that attitude and hard work can change the fate of an athlete. Although his physical condition is not outstanding among the top interior players in the country, his story has inspired many young players who also face physical limitations.
Once, Zhang Mingchi was questioned by some fans about his ability, and even jokingly called him "Big Sweet Potato", thinking that he was not suitable for development on the professional basketball stage. However, as time went on and his playing opportunities increased, Zhang gradually showed his basketball talent and key role in the game. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in his scrambling and efficient scoring under the basket. Especially in a high-pressure environment like the playoffs, he was able to maintain a consistent performance, which made those who once questioned him fade away, and fans even affectionately called him "Ji Di".
Zhang Mingchi's height of 2.13 meters and arm span of 2.06 meters are considered standard among CBA interior players, but compared to some players with more amazing physical talents, such as Han Dejun, his physical condition does have certain disadvantages. However, just like Han Dejun, Zhang Mingchi made up for these shortcomings through hard training and a competitive attitude. His game is full of passion and persistence, and he gives his all every time he gets on the court, and this spirit is especially precious on the basketball court.
From the early "big sweet potato" to the current "Chi Di", Zhang Mingchi's growth and progress are not only reflected in technology and data. His game intelligence, on-court decisions and performances in key moments also show his growth. He showed great enthusiasm and efficiency in the race for rebounds, especially when it came to offensive rebounding. In addition, his consistent performance at the free-throw line (averaging 81% from the free-throw line per game) has earned him valuable scoring opportunities.
Guangdong head coach Du Feng showed a high degree of strategy in using Zhang Mingchi. By controlling the playing time of the team's basketball star Zhou Qi, Coach Du Feng provided Zhang Mingchi with more opportunities to show himself. In the game against Guangsha, Zhang Mingchi not only performed well under the basket, but also showed his ability to handle the ball. When the team needs him, he can effectively finish the basket or create outside shots for teammates such as Hu Mingxuan and Waters when opponents shrink their defenses
With more game experience and continued technical improvement, Zhang Mingchi has every potential to become one of the key players on the CBA's interior line. Regardless of his future path, Zhang's story will continue to inspire young people who are struggling on the road to basketball.