Grayson Boucher (right) pulls off a flashy move in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on June 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

I never set out to start a streetball movement in China. I was just uploading clips. But more than a decade later, I'm playing 1v1s against top Chinese influencer hoopers in Shenzhen who grew up watching me dressed as Spider-Man.

Hi, everybody in China, I'm Grayson Boucher aka The Professor. The first time I came to China was in 2012, on a tour with Allen Iverson. Since then, I've been back multiple times, mostly for playing games at various levels. But this latest trip in June, a partnership with Anta, felt different. Not just bigger. Not just better hosted. It felt like the beginning of a new chapter.

I came out for two weeks, hit five cities, and got to see firsthand how much streetball has grown here. Back in 2014 and 2015, I noticed the game picking up. But now? Now it's on another level.

Creators, hoopers, influencers, packed events, teenagers pulling off moves I used to make — sometimes better than I ever could. I never fully understood the impact I had until I came back and witnessed it myself.

Listening to their stories — how a clip or a moment inspired them, gave them confidence, shaped their path — that's when it truly sank in. I wasn't just part of the scene here. I was part of its foundation.

This trip made it real for me. To walk these streets, to watch the culture flourish, and to hear people tell me that I played a role in starting the streetball movement in China. It's a humbling, unforgettable feeling.

Grayson Boucher (center) is surrounded by fans at Anta's basketball flagship store in Shenzhen on June 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

We pulled up to Anta's basketball flagship store in Shenzhen last week, and there was a full court in the middle of the place. Wall-to-wall visuals. Crowd was insane. The energy took me back to the AND1 days. That was the biggest highlight of the trip, no question.

Anta has been showing love. I mean real love. Their investment in streetball — the tournaments, the infrastructure, the stores — it's next level. I even toured their museum and got the whole story behind the brand. I didn't realize how deep their roots go. Now I'm proud to say I'm part of that.

Beyond the court, what always hits me about China is the hospitality. People here welcome you like family. From Guangzhou to Hangzhou, I felt that warmth. We had lion dances, local food, real cultural experiences. That stuff stays with you.

Grayson Boucher (left) tries his hand at traditional Chinese seal carving at the Xiling Seal Engraver's Society in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on June 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Somebody asked me if I had any stereotypes about China before I first came. I think a lot of hoopers in the US underestimated the talent here. I used to hear people say, "Chinese players can't hoop like that." But when I got to play some CBA preseason games years ago, I saw it with my own eyes — they got skill, size, and basketball IQ. Real hoopers, period.

This trip also reminded me how far the country has come. The tech here is wild. Bullet trains, smart cities, cashless payments are everywhere. Shenzhen feels like the Silicon Valley of Asia. It opened my eyes, making me realize there's a lot the US could learn from China right now.

Now, I'm on Douyin. I'm dropping content. I'm connecting. And I'm telling fans: this isn't just a one-off. I'm trying to build in China. I want to help grow the streetball scene even more. Take it to another level. Grassroots to global.

I'm 41 now. My goal is to keep hooping till I'm 50. I'd love to make the Hall of Fame one day as a contributor. Somebody who grew the game in a different way.

I've always believed that what you give the game, it gives back.

China gave me more than I ever expected. Now it's my turn to give even more.

The author is a world-famous streetballer and social media influencer based in the US.