China's first centre-forward Zhou Qi's first season in the Australian Basketball League has officially ended, although the Phoenix team claims to make Zhou Qi the first core of the team's interior line, but what they did not expect is that Zhou Qi looks like a role player in the Phoenix team. Whether it is Zhou Qi's status in the Phoenix team or personal data, he is so-so, although he has a certain playing time, he is not the core center of the Phoenix team - far from the treatment promised by the Phoenix team before!
In this way, does Zhou Qi still want to continue playing in the NBL? We know that Zhou Qi signed a "1+1" contract with the Phoenix team, that is to say, after Zhou Qi's contract for the first season is executed, whether he will stay in the Phoenix team next season depends on Zhou Qi's own meaning. The second year is also the so-called "player option", if Zhou Qi wants to stay in the team, then he directly executes the second year contract; if he does not want to stay in the team, wants to return to the CBA or have other leagues to invite him to go, Zhou Qi refuses to execute the second year of the contract.
For Zhou Qi, this contract is still relatively flexible and free. After all, when Zhou Qi went to the Phoenix team, basically people thought that this was a "springboard" for Zhou Qi to go to the NBA. Although the Phoenix also want to continue to retain Zhou Qi in the second year to let him play in the team, will Zhou Qi stay? Judging from his tactical position and performance in one season, the probability of Zhou Qi leaving is very high.
So where is Zhou Qi's next stop? The domestic media also gave a statement, according to reports, the NBA's eastern weak brigade Pacers, is very optimistic about Zhou Qi. The Pacers said they hope Zhou Qi can go to the team's training camp this summer, and they are willing to give such an opportunity! We know that it has been more than 3 years since Zhou Qi said goodbye from the NBA, and at the end of 2018, the Rockets cut Zhou Qi and made Zhou Qi a free agent. After that, Zhou Qi, who did not find the opportunity of other teams in the NBA, had to return to the CBA to play.
If Zhou Qi can sign with the Pacers, then after 3 years, Zhou Qi will return to the NBA. As the first center in China, Zhou Qi's strength and talent are still good, he can protect the basket and shoot, and another advantage is that Zhou Qi has the ability to play three points with one hand. This kind of space-type interior player who can prevent and shoot is extremely popular in the NBA.
More importantly, after the Pacers sent Sabonis away, the interior line was not strong, and although Zhou Qi could not play the main force in the Pacers, it was still a drama to try to enter the rotation.
By the way, this report further points out that not only the Pacers are interested in Zhou Qi, in fact, in the middle of this season, there are "more than one NBA team" who has been related to Zhou Qi, asking about his situation and future plans, that is, these teams are interested in Zhou Qi. If Zhou Qi is willing, multiple NBA teams should give Zhou Qi a chance to return to the league to play.
Bidding farewell to the Phoenix team and playing in the NBA, even if it is to go to a weak team, is also very beneficial to the improvement of Zhou Qi's level. The Pacers are different from the Rockets, the Rockets were a championship team at that time, and Zhou Qi had no chance at all; and today's Pacers are weak teams in the league, players like Zhou Qi should be able to get more opportunities to play, and Zhou Qi should cherish this hard-won opportunity.