The Olympic schedule is over, and although I feel it doesn t belong to it, I am determined to try it

Zhou Qi recalled that NBA journey and said, "When I first went there, I was completely confused and didn't know anything. I had to explore everything by myself. At that time, I had a learning attitude and wanted to experience it. I was very clear about my situation. Although I had never played with those NBA players before, after the Olympics that year, I obviously felt that I was not very adaptable to it (NBA). However, since there was such an opportunity in front of me, I must try it. When you are really in it, train and play with them, and personally contact the pure American teams and American lifestyles, this is completely different from the feeling you hear and watch outside. Only by experiencing it yourself can you understand the difference."

The Olympic schedule ended, although I felt that it did not belong to this, I decided to try it

Zhou Qi then added: "At that time, I often When I wake up, I may suddenly receive a text message and I have to fly to the Development League immediately with my bag and fly to the development league. I will not notify you one night in advance to prepare. My situation there is not as stable as my predecessors, and I can get a stable chance to play on the court. But this is also a training in my life, which is of great benefit to my life and basketball path. Now when I go to the United States to train, I know what kind of trainer to help me, and I also know what to eat there , what preparations to do, what kind of treatment to receive. Because I understand the way the NBA, the top league operates in rehabilitation, treatment equipment, training rhythm, etc., if I haven't been to it, I wouldn't know about this. So that NBA experience was extremely beneficial to my basketball career."

At the 2016 NBA Draft, Zhou Qi was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 43rd overall pick and officially joined in 2017. In the 2017-18 season, Zhou Qi played 18 times for the Rockets, with an average of 6.9 minutes per game, contributing 1.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks. But on December 18, 2018, Zhou Qi was cut by the Rockets.