As reported by ESPN, Chinese basketball player Zhou Qi has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Houston Rockets. This deal will see the 7-foot-2 center join the NBA for the 2017-18 season. Zhou, who was the 43rd pick in the 2016 NBA draft, comes to the Rockets 15 years after the franchise drafted Hall of Famer Yao Ming with the No.1 overall pick.
ESPN did not offer any contract details. However, according to Sina, an American source revealed that the contract signed by Zhou and the Rockets is a 4-year contract (with a 4th year player option) worth $5.57m in total.
Zhou, listed at 21 years old, played three seasons for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was part of the 2016 CBA champions and was the CBA's defensive player of the year averaging 37 points, 13.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game.
Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick