NBL 2022: How NBA great Yao Ming helped the NBL land Asia’s best player, Zhou Qi

Chinese star Zhou Qi has made an instant impact in the NBL with the South East Melbourne Phoenix but his arrival would not have happened without the blessing of an NBA great.

Zhou Qi respects Chinese legend Yao Ming so much that he wouldn’t get on the plane to Australia to play in the NBL without his approval.

Zhou, a man described by Boomers coach Brian Goorjian as Asia’s best player, grew up idolising Ming and religiously followed his successful NBA career.

So, when the opportunity arose to play in the ever-improving NBL with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, he wanted the big man’s blessing before committing.

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“Yao is someone that I look up to and he is someone that inspires me to improve my game constantly,” Zhou said about Ming, who played 514 NBA games for the Houston Rockets and is now retired and working as the president of the Chinese Basketball Association.

“The first time I met Yao was probably after he had retired from the NBA and returned to China as the owner of the Shanghai Sharks. I was playing in the CBA then, and we just had some simple conversations.”

Zhou Qi confided in Chinese NBA great Yao Ming before signing with South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Since that day, Zhou has kept in close contact with Ming and used him as a sounding board throughout his career. It’s why he relied heavily on the eight-time NBA All-Star when finalising his move to South East Melbourne.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger was part of the contract discussions and has fond memories of a respectful Zhou wanting Ming’s permission before flying to Australia.

“Zhou was very adamant that competing for his national team and representing his country the right way was a very significant priority for him,” Loeliger said.

“So, even though he had every clearance that he needed from a FIBA and immigrations point of view, he made it very clear to us that he needed Yao to be happy for him to leave and begin his pre-season with the Phoenix.

“He is a very respectful young man, especially for those who have come before him and made the game in China what it is today.”

WHY AUSTRALIA?

For Zhou, his reasons for joining the NBL are simple.

The Chinese centre, who was selected by Houston with the 46th pick in the 2016 NBA draft, wants to take his game to another level.

Zhou believes the NBL is the perfect platform to become better, and hopefully return to the NBA where he has previously played 22 games for the Rockets between 2017 and 2019.

“A lot of people supported me to come here (to the NBL),” he said.

“The players in the league are very competitive and it’s a very good league to improve my game. I just want to win games and perform strongly for my team.”

DOUBTS OVER DEAL

Zhou looks like he is set to achieve his goals based on his start with South East Melbourne.

The 25-year-old looked solid in the pre-season with his presence in the paint while he excelled in his regular season debut against the New Zealand Breakers. He dropped eight points and added five rebounds, two steals and three blocks coming off the bench in a dominant win.

Loeliger still has to pinch himself that Zhou is playing on Australian shores, given he had doubted the deal would be done.

Zhou Qi has had an immediate impact with the Phoenix. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

During the course of conversations with Asian-based agents earlier this year, he had started to hear rumours that Zhou wasn’t happy with his arrangement in China.

Loeliger even made a note to “chase that rabbit down the rabbit hole” but before he had the chance, he received a phone call from Phoenix CEO Tom Greer asking about the league’s Asian player rule because the club was set to sign Zhou.

The news almost made Loeliger fall off his chair.

“It took me by surprise,” he said. “I won’t lie, I was a little bit sceptical at first because I’ve heard things like that many times before in relation to players who have the reputation and marketability of someone like Zhou Qi and it hasn’t come to fruition.

“I was expecting a call from someone at some point, but I didn’t know whether it was going to be an agent shopping him around or a club saying, hey I think we’ve got him.”

.@officialzhouqi slammed the door shut late in our win against the Breakers 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/39NUnfOQkY

— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) December 10, 2021

BIG IMPACT

Fortunately for Loeliger, and the NBL, Zhou’s interest in the Phoenix was legitimate and the club secured his signature.

The 25-year-old has attracted significant eyeballs to the Australian league. His first dunk in the pre-season pulled in a whopping 50 million views on the Phoenix’s social pages alone.

Loeliger was courtside at Zhou’s debut against the Breakers and he loved the Chinese influence in the crowd, including flags and personal banners for their superstar big man.

“That was so welcomed from my point of view,” he said.

“The impact of Zhou’s signing for Australian basketball is really significant.

“There are a lot of eyes on us out of China that otherwise probably wouldn’t be watching.

🏀 | From the moment he was introduced to @SEMelbPhoenix fans before a dominant victory over New Zealand, it was clear why Chinese star Zhou Qi is the club's biggest drawcard — literally and figuratively, @MickRandallHS writes.
STORY: https://t.co/ELbjfXsSBb#NBL22

— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 4, 2021

“It also shows how much of an impact we can have on the improvement of his game. I think our league suits him in that the NBL is a hybrid between the physicality of FIBA and the grace and athleticism of the NBA, so I think we will do a great job of highlighting his positives.

“It is also about Australians appreciating the level of talent that is in China and I think it will do a lot in terms of opening the floodgates for recruitment.”

According to Boomers and Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian, the floodgates are already open.

Goorjian, who spent over a decade coaching in China, has received multiple messages from Chinese players expressing interest in the NBL.

“It legitimises the league when guys like (Zhou) sign,” Goorjian said. “When I heard the league had secured him given my time coaching in China, I thought, ‘oh wow, that is big.”

Zhou Qi has fitted in well at South East Melbourne Phoenix. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

FUNNY AND FRIENDLY SIDE

Talk to Phoenix small forward Mitch Creek and Zhou is already a favourite among the playing group.

Creek has become particularly close to his new seven-foot two teammate, with the pair regularly hitting up Melbourne’s best takeaway outlets when they aren’t training.

“Zhou has got a massive love for burgers, so I’ve taken him to a few of my favourite burger spots,” Creek said. “He has already invited me to China to hang out with him. He is going to take me to a few Chinese cuisines.

“I’ve just got to get him to eat a few Australian animals now and we’ll be OK.”

Creek says Zhou is also a fast learner. This was on show at training when he picked up the Phoenix’s offence and defence schemes within days.

“Which a lot of guys can’t do,” he said. “Zhou understands the game very well and it makes it easier to play with him.

“I love him. He came in and was an instant impact, on and off the court.

“He picked up our lingo and shit talk basically straight away and he was making jokes at the lunch table. He had guys in tears laughing — he is a really fun character to be around.”