Can the South East Melbourne Phoenix unlock Zhou Qi's most dominant self this season?

Zhou Qi will be back in the NBL this season, but it remains unclear whether he and the South East Melbourne Phoenix can bring out the best in each other.

Credit: May Bailey Photography

It took until the dying days of the offseason, but Zhou Qi is coming back to the NBL.

The Chinese superstar spent last season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but he seemed certain to return home to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) until last week. While his re-signing seemingly came out of the blue, it was the final step of a long process that featured a contract dispute in China and plenty of patience from the Phoenix.

“To be able to secure his signature was something that we were dedicated to try and get done from the moment he arrived last year and throughout the entire offseason,” South East Melbourne general manager Tommy Greer told media last week.

The Phoenix held their final roster spot open until less than a week from the start of the season, when Zhou elected to leave the CBA and return to Australia. The Chinese league’s rules dictate that players out of contract, must remain with their club if offered a max salary deal. The Xinjiang Flying Tigers opted to do exactly that; Zhou didn’t want to play for them, and his natural escape route was a return to his NBL22 home. He will reportedly land in Australia in a fortnight’s time, with his season debut planned for October 15.

Whatever the circumstance, the Phoenix are happy to have him back. That’s as much for his loveable personality off the court as his impact on it. “It’s a cold start to the morning, but it’s always a little but warmer inside when Zhou Qi’s a part of the Phoenix,” co-captain Mitch Creek said as the signing was announced. “The last couple of times I’ve been talking to him, it’s ended with ‘I love you’ from him to me and me to him.”

Zhou certainly made a big impression last season, both on his teammates and the fans. Melbourne’s large Chinese community turned out in droves to support him at every home game, and he was welcomed with huge cheers from both sets of fans ahead of China’s matchup with the Australian Boomers earlier this year. “The crowd went nuts for him when he was announced during those qualifiers and I know that hit him pretty deep,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell told News Corp’s Michael Randall last week.

While it was all love and smooth sailing off the court, Zhou’s debut NBL season was a little rockier on the floor.