Zhou Qi is the first Chinese basketball player to declare for the draft in nearly a decade, and once he’s drafted he’ll be the first Chinese NBA player since Yi Jianlian.
Milwaukee Bucks fans might cringe after remembering Jianlian’s disastrous Bucks tenure, but Chinese fans are hoping that Qi ends up more Yao Ming than Yi Jianlian.
That’s a hefty comparison to make, considering Yao is now officially a Hall of Famer. Qi may not be another Yao, but he’ll have a chance to make his own massive impact on the NBA starting next season.