South East Melbourne Phoenix’s recent signing of Chinese star Zhou Qi was a major coup for both the club and the NBL.
With Zhou comes a rare talent on the court and millions of Chinese basketball fans suddenly with an appetite for the Phoenix and the NBL off the court.
Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is the latest to sing his praises.
The bronze-medal winning coach spent over a decade in China following his 2009 NBL championship with the South Dragons, giving him a great understanding of their basketball community.
Goorjian says Zhou’s decision to play in Australia in the upcoming season is a sign of how far the NBL has come in recent times.
“Zhou Qi signing at the Phoenix – I was in China for 11 years, that’s like Andrew Gaze in the day signing in China and leaving the NBL,” Goorjian said on the Ball and the Real World podcast.
“He is the best player in China. He’s (a former) Houston Rocket; he’s 7’1; he’s talented.
“There was no talk 12 years ago about guys from China coming to Australia but that’s what’s happening (now).”
Chinese basketball fans were excited a fortnight ago when Brisbane signed emerging big man Chuanxing Liu as a development player and their excitement reached fever pitch the next day with the Phoenix’s announcement of Zhou Qi.
Social media platforms in China combined for an eye-boggling 500,000,000 views of Zhou Qi content on the day of his announcement.
Simply put, the Phoenix and the NBL are now in a position to have their brand consumed by more fans than ever before.
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Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer spent a considerable amount of time working with China during his time in the NBL front office and believes the signing opens up unprecedented opportunities.
“Bringing in Zhou Qi opens up incredible opportunities as a club both locally and internationally,” Greer said at a recent Phoenix members Q-and-A.
“The Chinese community loves basketball; they get right into it. Zhou Qi is really going to expand the exposure we get internationally and all basketball fans in China will be watching the Phoenix next season.”
Zhou is expected to start at centre in a star-studded Phoenix line-up alongside Mitch Creek, Ryan Broekhoff, Cam Gliddon, and Xavier Munford.
The world will be watching.
