With the No. 43 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected Zhou Qi, an enormous Chinese big man with major boom-or-bust potential.
NBA Draft 2016 results: Rockets select Zhou Qi with No. 43 pick
The Chinese big man is a mystery that offers tons of upside, but will he ever reach his potential?
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Zhou is 7’2, and his 7’8 wingspan is the largest ever seen at the NBA Combine, according to Draft Express. That’s immediately the most impressive thing about the 20-year-old, who considered declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft before deciding otherwise.
Despite his size, Zhou is incredibly mobile, running the floor and moving his feet on both ends. He has an excellent mid-range jumper and he’ll shoot a three-pointer from time to time, too. Combine that with an advanced post game and Zhou is probably the most polished offensive center in the draft. In a game against Korea, you can see Zhou put the ball on the floor, hit layups with both hands and even show a pull-up jumper dribbling in from the three-point line, all advanced skills that are incredible for his size.
Zhou is also a sensational shot blocker, leading the Chinese Basketball Association with 3.4 swats in 34 minutes per game. His height and mobility means he can make up huge swaths of ground, easily rejected shots when he’s on the weak side
However, there are major concerns about Zhou’s frame. He weighed only 218 pounds at the NBA Combine, which is less than some guards in this same draft, and certainly less than any other big man 6’10 and up. Zhou’s size means he’s easily bullied in the paint, struggling to defend in the post and to rebound. Zhou is sometimes too passive, too, although he’s improved over the past few years.
Still, Zhou has drawn a lot of attention, especially from his own country. After Yao Ming’s brief superstardom and Yi Jianlian’s quick return to the CBA, the basketball-adoring Chinese would love to see another one of their countrymen succeed in the NBA. Despite his size, Zhou is a completely different prospect than Ming due to his quickness. Because he’s as frail as he is, though, there are concerns that Zhou’s career could go in a similar direction, being plagued with injuries as the sheer number of games wears on him.
With modern nutrition and a full-time NBA training staff, there’s hope that Zhou can bulk up and fill out his frame. To successfully navigate the grueling 82-game season, he will have to figure it out. Zhou’s jump shot and high-end offensive skillset makes him one of the most exciting prospects in the entire draft. However, it’s also easy to see Zhou going out like Yi Jianlian’s short, five-year career.
For now, Zhou is a major question, fully capable of both paths. Now the exciting part of his career begins.
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