BIO: Zhou Qi grew up in Xinxiang, China and attended Fuxin Basketball School from 2005 in Fuxin, Liaoning.

Zhou first began appearing on scouting reports when he guided China to a unlikely youth team title in Turkey at the TBF International Under-16 Tournament in 2011. At age fifteen, Zhou put up 41 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks in China’s semi final win over Germany, and then went for 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 blocks in the final against the host nation. A year later at the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament, a traditional testing ground for the best teenage players in international basketball, Zhou reinforced his reputation as one to watch by averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks in 28.2 minutes per game.

In January 2014, Zhou left his boyhood team, the Liaoning Jaguars, to join the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. However, he was unable to play for Xinjiang until the 2014/15 season due to being underaged.

Although there were rumors that several U.S. college team’s were courting him, the teenager decided to stay in China, and his move to the cash-flush Xinjiang team caused a firestorm of speculation within the local media. Initially, it was claimed Zhou had accepted a three-year, $744,000 deal that would have made him better paid than most of the Tigers’ roster at the time, and the club was forced to publicly deny those stories.

In 2015/16, Xinjiang lost in the semifinals of the CBA playoffs. Zhou led the CBA in blocked shots in each of his first two seasons at 3.3 and 3.2 per game, respectively, while shooting 65 percent from two-point range in 73 total games.

In June 2016, Zhou reached a agreement with Xinjiang that would allow him to buy out his contract and join the NBA in 2017. After much back and forth, Zhou’s representation in China and the U.S. secured a buyout that would allow him out of his contract at the conclusion of the 2016/17 season for the maximum league mandated amount permitted, which is $675,000.

In 2016/17, Zhou averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 58.6% from the floor. He also ranked second in the CBA in blocks (2.3 bpg) and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Zhou hit 20 3-pointers in 2016/17 after having 10 his first two seasons combined. He also helped Xinjiang win its first championship in 2016/17.

After his second season with Xinjiang, Zhou QI declared for the 2016 NBA draft. He had the longest wingspan during the 2016 NBA Draft Combine at 7’7¾” (2.33 m). On June 23, 2016, he was selected with the 43rd overall pick by the Houston Rockets.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Zhou Qi made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 25 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.

Coming off their first Finals appearance the previous season, South East Melbourne looked to take another step forward, re-signing coach Simon Mitchell (one-year deal) and retaining Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa and Mitch Creek. Keifer Sykes (to NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) exited, with Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi (via Xinjiang) and Xavier Munford (via Bursaspor) among the additions. Zach Hankins (via Nymburk) was initially signed as an import, but a knee injury suffered during NBA Summer League ruled him out for NBL22 and South East Melbourne parted ways with him before the season, with Devin Thomas (via Kalev) later filling the second import position.

On September 8, Qi signed a two-year deal with South East Melbourne, with the second season a player option. The signing immediately gave the Phoenix a huge audience in China, with one social media post announcing his recruitment reaching more than 480 million people and generating 15.5 million engagements. After arriving in Melbourne and completing hotel quarantine, “Everyone was very welcoming. I enjoy the team and the vibe of the club,” Qi said. His preparation was disrupted again shortly before the season when he suffered an ankle injury against Japan while representing China in FIBA World Cup qualifying, leaving him a game-time decision for the opener after returning to Australia and completing 72 hours of quarantine.

Qi passed a fitness test and made his NBL debut against New Zealand at John Cain Arena on December 4, where Qi (8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) came off the bench as South East Melbourne defeated the Breakers 89-65, with Munford (27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Creek (19 points) leading the Phoenix, while Finn Delany (18 points and 9 rebounds) was New Zealand’s best.

Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 blocks across 24 games) started 23 of his 24 appearances and immediately provided South East Melbourne with a major presence around the basket. He was called for 2.6 fouls per game, reached four fouls in six games but never fouled out.

Qi’s best all-round game came against defending champions Melbourne at John Cain Arena on December 12, where he made 10 of 14 field goals and finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 7 blocks as South East Melbourne defeated United 94-86. Munford (16 points and 4 assists) and Creek (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support, while Matthew Dellavedova (19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) was Melbourne’s best.

South East Melbourne won three of its first four games before COVID interruptions forced several games to be postponed and left the Phoenix without playing for 28 days. They returned against Brisbane on January 15, where Qi (2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) played 17 minutes as the Bullets defeated South East Melbourne 100-84, with Creek (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Munford (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) leading the Phoenix, while Nathan Sobey (18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) was Brisbane’s best. South East Melbourne quickly recovered, winning eight of its next 11 games to climb to second place with an 11-5 record.

Qi missed the January 25 game against Cairns after being a late withdrawal with gastro and remained sidelined against Brisbane on January 29 through illness, before returning against Perth on February 5. He later missed the March 25 game against Cairns and March 27 game against Adelaide with a minor knee complaint before returning against Cairns on April 2. These were Qi’s only four missed games during NBL22, with none of his absences caused by COVID protocols.

Qi’s best scoring game came against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre on March 17, where he made 11 of 14 field goals and finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist, keeping South East Melbourne within reach after falling 19 points behind before the Hawks held on for a 103-97 win. Creek (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Munford (13 points) provided support, while Duop Reath (22 points and 12 rebounds) was Illawarra’s best. The loss was South East Melbourne’s third in a row and dropped the Phoenix out of the top four.

During the season Thomas was released following multiple breaches of his contract and the club’s code of conduct, with Brandon Ashley (8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds across 23 games) exiting Fortitudo Bologna and signing on to fill the vacant second import position. Creek (20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 28 games) led South East Melbourne in scoring, won the Phoenix MVP and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Munford (16.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 26 games), Broekhoff (11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 18 games), Le’Afa (8.8 points across 26 games) and Adnam (8.8 points across 25 games) were the other major contributors as the Phoenix finished among the league’s top three scoring teams at 87.7 points per game.

South East Melbourne’s season backflipped after reaching 11-5, with a four-game losing streak against Illawarra twice, Melbourne and Sydney coinciding with Broekhoff suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Even with a favourable schedule across the final month, defeats to Adelaide, Cairns and Melbourne ended the Phoenix’s playoff hopes as they managed only six wins from their final 14 games.

South East Melbourne closed the season at RAC Arena on April 24, where Qi (11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) played 17 minutes as Munford (24 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and Ashley (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Phoenix to a 102-100 overtime win over Perth, while Bryce Cotton (28 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) was the Wildcats’ best. The victory ended Perth’s 35-year playoff streak and left South East Melbourne sixth with a 15-13 record.

2022/23
After finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and missing the finals the previous season, South East Melbourne retained coach Simon Mitchell and its main local core. Xavier Munford (to Hapoel Tel Aviv), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa (to New Zealand), Cameron Gliddon (to New Zealand) and Adam Gibson (retired) departed, while Gary Browne (via Piratas de Quebradillas), Trey Kell III (via Olimpia Milano), Alan Williams (via Lokomotiv Kuban), Junior Madut (via Hawaii), Grant Anticevich (via California) and Anzac Rissetto (via Franklin Bulls) were added. Williams had been recruited after Zhou Qi declined his player option and was expected to return to China.

Negotiations over a return remained on-again, off-again throughout the offseason, forcing South East Melbourne to prepare without the Chinese centre. On September 26, only days before the season began, he changed his mind and signed a new one-year deal, filling the final place on the Phoenix roster and creating a twin-towers combination with Williams.

“It’s been on again, off again … It wasn’t until it was pretty much signed, sealed and delivered that Tommy called me,” Mitchell said.

The late signing meant he remained overseas for South East Melbourne’s opening three games. The Phoenix began the season without Browne, Kell III and Ryan Broekhoff because of preseason injuries, but Kyle Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal), Mitch Creek (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Williams (12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists) led South East Melbourne to an 84-79 opening-night victory over Tasmania, while Jack McVeigh (20 points and 5 rebounds) was the JackJumpers’ leading scorer.

Qi (6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds across 9 games) arrived earlier than originally scheduled and was eased into the rotation after an illness had affected his weight and conditioning. He came off the bench in all nine appearances, with Williams remaining South East Melbourne’s starting centre.

He made his season debut against New Zealand at John Cain Arena on October 15, where Qi (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) played 12 minutes. Creek (20 points and 4 rebounds) and Adnam (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led South East Melbourne, but Robert Loe (18 points and 6 rebounds) helped the Breakers win 85-77.

After appearing in five consecutive games, Qi suffered a calf injury during training before the November 6 Throwdown against Melbourne. He then joined China during the FIBA international window, with the calf rehabilitation and illness-related conditioning issues keeping him out for six consecutive games from November 6 through December 3 before he returned to the rotation.

His best game of the season came against Adelaide at John Cain Arena on December 11, where Qi (11 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) made 4-of-5 field goals and recorded his only double-double of NBL23. Creek (24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Kell III (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Phoenix to a 102-84 victory, while Robert Franks (18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) was Adelaide’s best.

Qi’s final appearance came against defending champion Sydney at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on December 18, where he contributed 2 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes. Creek (46 points and 10 rebounds) and Kell III (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) carried the Phoenix after Browne and Broekhoff were injured, while Derrick Walton Jr. (45 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists) led Sydney before South East Melbourne held the Kings scoreless during the final minute of the second overtime and won 113-112.

The following day, South East Melbourne announced that the Chinese centre was returning home for family reasons. He was not initially released, with the Phoenix supporting the decision and leaving the door open for him to return before the end of the season.

“Zhou is needed at home at this time, we fully support his decision,” Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer said.

No return date had been established by January 12 and he remained in China for the rest of the campaign, missing South East Melbourne’s final ten regular-season games and the Play-In Qualifier. His midseason exit was not injury-related, although the earlier calf problem, international window and delayed arrival had already limited him to nine games.

Creek (23.4 points and 7 rebounds across 29 games) produced the highest-scoring season of his career, earned All-NBL First Team honours and won the Phoenix MVP award. Williams (16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds across 28 games) led the NBL in rebounding, while Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals across 20 games) led the league in assists. Kell III (12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds across 24 games) missed five regular-season games through rib and knee injuries, while Broekhoff (10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 20 games) missed nine through separate hamstring, hip and groin injuries.

South East Melbourne was fourth with an 11-7 record when the Chinese centre returned home, but finished fifth at 15-13 after going 11-3 at home and 4-10 away. The Phoenix hosted Perth in the Play-In Qualifier at John Cain Arena, where Creek (24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Browne (20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Williams (16 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) helped South East Melbourne lead by 13 points early in the fourth quarter. Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals), Brady Manek (24 points) and TaShawn Thomas (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) led Perth, which outscored the Phoenix 41-23 during the final period and eliminated South East Melbourne 106-99.

Zhou Qi played two seasons the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 10.1 points, 6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 33 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 49th in blocks per game.

HIGHLIGHTS: