Stay True, Never Quit — The Passionate Basketball Journey of Cheng Wei from Hsinchu Lioneers

The Grit and Passion of Hsinchu JKO Lioneers’ Cheng Wei

Almost everyone has had a dream at some point.Pursuing it in the heat of the moment is one thing, but pouring your entire youth into chasing that dream takes courage, faith, and an extraordinary amount of perseverance.

Cheng Wei, a player for the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers of Taiwan’s P. LEAGUE+, is a prime example. Nicknamed “Tai-ge” (Big Brother Tai) by fans, Cheng comes across as candid and quick-witted during interviews. Yet behind his relaxed demeanor lies a story filled with struggle and determination. His journey to the professional ranks has been far from a smooth fast break — more like a series of hard-fought battles.Cheng humbly calls himself a late bloomer, someone who’s had to earn everything through relentless effort. Since joining the Lioneers, he has never missed a single practice.

From Setbacks to Comebacks

Though some may jokingly refer to Cheng as a “basketball outsider,” his background tells a different story. He played for Nanhud High School, a consistent top-eight team in Taiwan’s high school league (HBL). But during his university years at Shih Chien University, he struggled with confidence, doubting his skills and physical ability, so much so that he didn’t initially plan to pursue a professional career. It wasn’t until his junior year, when he participated in a Nike-sponsored tournament, that the spark reignited. Drawing on his solid high school experience, he rediscovered his confidence and led his team to a Division II championship. In his senior year, he helped Shih Chien move up to Division I in the UBA (University Basketball Association).

How does he stay positive through it all? “There are always moments when you feel down, start overthinking, and even complain,” Cheng admits.“But being a Capricorn, I’m practical. Instead of overanalyzing, I’d rather get back to work and train harder.”

Even when he wasn’t getting playing time, Cheng never gave up. “At first, streetball was just a hobby. But then I started using it to simulate game scenarios and get more reps in,” he says. He ended up competing in street courts all over Taipei, gradually building his name and sharpening his skills.His streetball success eventually opened new doors, including winning a major streetball tournament.

A Career-Defining Breakthrough

In 2017, Cheng signed with the Beijing Bucks of China’s NBL. The training was grueling compared to Taiwan’s — fewer rest days, more intense sessions.But he embraced the grind and developed a more well-rounded skill set.One standout moment came when he dropped a career-high 35 points in a game against Jonathan Gibson, a former CBA scoring champion.

 Cheng says one of the turning points in his career came from a chance encounter with Lin Chien-Hung, a former Taiwan Beer player who later became a folk healer. “I’d been dealing with a stubborn ankle injury for half a year with no progress,” Cheng recalls. “Then I met Lin, and somehow, he helped me recover. Later, I found out he had also played for Shih Chien’s basketball team.” Lin has been a mentor ever since. Known for his gritty path to pro ball — including doing 1,000 frog jumps a day for a year just to dunk — Lin has always believed in Cheng’s potential.

Another pivotal figure in Cheng’s journey was PLG CEO Blackie Chen. After a mutual friend introduced them, Cheng persistently recommended himself to Blackie. Eventually, he earned an invite to practice with the Fubon Braves — a critical first step into the professional world.

Throughout his career, Cheng has bounced between teams, but the most nerve-wracking moment, he says, was the cusp of turning pro!“It felt like I was right there, but couldn’t quite cross the line,” he recalls. “But once I took that first step into the professional world, quitting was never an option.”

What It Takes to Be a Pro

When asked what advice he’d give aspiring players, Cheng humbly says he’s not in a position to offer guidance.But when pressed, he highlights two essentials: skill and mindset. “Confidence is everything,” he emphasizes.He also notes the unexpected importance of language skills. During his time in China, he often served as an impromptu translator between foreign coaches and local players.

Dreaming is romantic, but realizing a dream takes grit. And that’s the biggest takeaway from Cheng Wei’s journey. As he puts it, “Maybe I just held on longer — maybe a year,maybe a year and a half, then someone else would have. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.”Hold on long enough, and you might just find yourself standing in a whole new world.