Yang Yi on Zhou Qi’s NBA Exit: The Salary Gap Made His Return to China “Only Natural”

On September 25, renowned basketball commentator Yang Yi reflected on Zhou Qi’s stint in the NBA and explained why returning to China was a rational choice.

Yang noted that while Zhou earned only about $200,000–300,000 annually with the Houston Rockets — roughly RMB 1 million — his CBA contracts exceeded RMB 20 million plus bonuses and allowances. Faced with limited playing opportunities and a non-guaranteed deal in the NBA, Zhou’s incentive to stay was weak.

“Zhou Qi was drafted in the second round, which meant no guaranteed contract. The Rockets had little patience, and Zhou wasn’t entirely committed when he went. His pursuit of the NBA was never as relentless as players like Yuta Watanabe,” Yang explained.

Drafted 43rd overall in 2016, Zhou officially joined the Rockets in 2017, becoming the second Chinese player in Houston after Yao Ming. But after struggling to adjust and show his potential, he was waived in December 2018. He then returned to the CBA, where Xinjiang offered him a deal worth over RMB 20 million — second only to Yi Jianlian at the time.

In contrast to his marginal NBA status, the CBA gave Zhou stable playing time, higher pay, and preserved his commercial value. Even when he drew attention from NBA scouts during his time in Australia’s NBL, injuries and World Cup duties kept him from another NBA run.

Yang concluded: “Unlike Watanabe’s persistence, Zhou made a pragmatic decision. With greater opportunities and security at home, his choice was perfectly understandable.”