Zach LaVine draws crowds in Taiwan during Taoyuan music‑festival visit

NBA two‑time dunk‑contest champion Zach LaVine arrived in Taiwan as a guest of the 2026 Taoyuan Pearl Coast International Music Festival. He appeared at the Zhuyuan Fish Harbor arena for an international basketball‑star exchange game, a three‑point shootout and a dunk contest, and took part in a public meet‑and‑greet that highlighted his Olympic gold‑medal win with the U.S. men’s team in 2021.

After meeting Taoyuan mayor Zhang Shan‑zheng, LaVine toured the Zhongli night market, where he tried the local dragon‑beard candy and egg‑cake, and showed off his shooting skill in a “basketball nine‑square” booth, hitting nine of six shots. His presence generated a surge of fans, extensive media coverage and was promoted by the city as a “Taoyuan Moment” to boost tourism and international visibility.