US streetball icon finds a home court in China

Chen Yifan, a basketball influencer who faced Boucher during this recent tour's Shanghai leg, put it best: "I used to watch the Professor's moves as a kid, and, now, I'm actually playing against him. I can't believe it."

Now aligned with a Chinese company, Boucher is not just endorsing a sneaker. He joined Douyin — China's TikTok equivalent — to connect directly with fans.

"What they're doing blew me away," he said. "Their stores, the Anta Museum, the investment in streetball — it's next level. Being part of that is a huge honor."

The highlight of his trip was Anta's basketball flagship store in Shenzhen.

"It was packed, and there was a court in the middle of the store," he said. "Crazy visuals, crazy energy. That one felt like AND1 again."

Off the court, Boucher said the warmth he's received in China has always stayed with him. "People here are extremely welcoming," he said. "It's something I've felt every time I've come."

Looking ahead, Boucher wants to play until he's 50, and even dreams of earning a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — not as a player, but as a contributor.

"I want to build in China," he said. "Cement a legacy and keep going higher."

With fans watching his every move, Boucher's latest crossover — from streetball legend to cultural connector — may be his slickest move yet.

Hou Minhao contributed to this story.