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In the days following the 2025 NBA Draft, social media lit up with rumors that Hansel Enmanuel — the viral one-armed basketball phenom — had signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets as an undrafted free agent. But according to his agent, the story simply isn’t true.
“No, it’s not,” Jhoancy Zapata, president and co-founder of Z-Axis Sports, told TSN in a phone interview. “It’s false — it’s a rumor.”
Zapata, who has helped negotiate more than $3.5 million in NIL deals for Enmanuel in under a year, said the talk has no basis in reality — but admitted the speculation serves as fuel for the 20-year-old guard.
“It’s definitely motivation, because rumors like that spark an interest — maybe not directly from the Rockets, but maybe from another team as well,” Zapata said. “So we know we’re closer to the finish line.”
Enmanuel’s journey from a devastating childhood accident to Division I college basketball has inspired millions across the world. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Enmanuel lost his left arm at age six when a cinderblock wall collapsed on him.
He spent months in the hospital and was forced to give up his first love, baseball, but soon found a new home in basketball, despite the challenge of playing the sport with one arm. For a deeper dive into Emmanuel’s story, take a look at TSN’s Daniel Chavkin feature story on him here.
Enmanuel finished his junior season at Austin Peay, averaging 2.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game for the Governors, shooting an impressive 62.2 percent from the field in the Atlantic Sun Conference. While the numbers don’t leap off the stat sheet, the impact of his story does.
Zapata said they have not been approached by the Rockets or any NBA team with a two-way deal yet. But she emphasized that the young guard remains locked in on his ultimate dream.
“Right now, there’s no Plan B,” Zapata said. “Our final goal — it’s definitely the NBA.”
That message aligns with what Enmanuel told the Associated Press’ Kristie Rieken back in December 2022, when asked about his pro aspirations: “We’re going to make it to the NBA,” Enmanuel said, via the AP. “That’s the big goal. Nobody is going to stop me. Only God.”
As of now, Zapata said Enmanuel has no immediate plans to pursue any other professional league, such as an international club or new leagues like rapper Ice Cube's co-founded BIG3.
“Not yet,” she said. “We’ll wait it out and see what happens.”
Zapata knows how to bet on her clients. As the head of Z-Axis Sports, the boutique agency she co-founded, Zapata negotiates millions in contracts and endorsements for professional and collegiate athletes. She’s secured deals north of $4 million with companies including Gatorade, Adidas, Oakley, Armani, Microsoft, J. Cole’s Dreamville brand, Puma and T-Mobile.
Enmanuel’s story — and the unwavering belief that he can reach basketball’s highest stage — remains at the center of that push.
“He uses it as motivation,” Zapata said. “Rumors like this, it means people believe in him — and that’s not going to stop him.”
For now, the one-armed sensation who first went viral dunking on Dominican streetball courts will keep putting in the work, undistracted by the swirl of internet speculation.
English (US)