Zhou Qi, the 22-year-old Chinese national center who has been waived by the Houston Rockets, says his ambition to succeed in the NBA remains undimmed.
Screenshot from Huston Rockets official website
Zhou's release was announced on the team's official website on Monday.
He posted his unchanged feelings about making it in the NBA on China's leading social media platform Weibo. "The jigsaw, if it is not this piece, it is the next piece. My dream isn't changed, I'm still on the way," he said.
Screenshot from Zhouqi's Weibo
NBA player Jeremy Lin, who generated a global craze known as "Linsanity" back in 2012, has offered encouragement to Zhou.
Screenshot from Jeremy Lin's Weibo
"I can totally understand and feel for you that you don't have the best opportunity yet to present the best of you," Lin wrote. "You ARE an NBA player. Your story is far from over. I am always at your back."
Chinese fans have shown their overwhelming support for Zhou.
Weibo user @ahalina said, "Come on Brother Qi. I will support you wherever you go."
User @Zhouqilanqiushijie added, "We are always with you, realize your dream."
And @chenchenyangla said, "Go Go! Chinese fans are witnessing your efforts."
Fans comfort and encourage Zhou Qi. /Screenshot from Zhou Qi's Weibo
Zhou was chosen by Houston as the 43rd overall pick in the 2016 draft. However, he has failed to establish himself in Houston, playing just a handful of games from the bench in 2017-2018 with no starts.
The towering 7ft (2.17m) player spent most of the past two seasons playing for the Rockets' junior affiliate Rio Grande Valley in the G-League. Zhou averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds a game last season for the Rockets in his 19 appearances.
Zhou spent three seasons in China with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, helping them capture the Chinese crown in 2017.
Zhou has also represented China, and was a member of the country's 2016 Olympic team. He was also a part of the China squad that won gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta in September.
(With inputs from AFP)