Zhou Zhihao, a 22-year-old Chinese-American youth, was selected by the Grizzlies with the 9th pick in the first round at the recently concluded 2024 NBA Draft, becoming the highlight of this draft. As soon as this news came out, it immediately attracted widespread attention in the basketball world.
Zhou is an alumnus of Purdue University and the school's first player to enter the NBA in 55 years. During his time at Purdue University, Zhou Zhihao became the pillar and absolute core of the varsity team with his excellent rebounding and scoring ability.
He helped Purdue reach the NCAA March finals for the first time in 55 years, and despite losing to defending champion UConn, Zhou Zhihao personally recorded a quasi-triple-double of 37 points and 10 rebounds in the finals, fully demonstrating the strength of his top interior players.
Throughout the NCAA March madness, Zhou Zhihao's performance was even more impressive. He averaged 29.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game, a game-high scoring and rebounding average.
With these brilliant statistics, Zhou Zhihao was selected into the best team of the NCAA March Madness without any suspense, and was highly concerned by major scouts and teams.
As an interior rookie, Zhou Zhihao has a rare scoring touch and footwork skills. He can play with his back to the single and disrupt the opposition's defense with hook shots and stride-and-jump shots.
These skills, which should have belonged to the outside shooter, were scavenged by Zhou Zhihao and integrated into his interior sub-contract, making his offensive methods colorful.
In terms of rebounding, Zhou Zhihao is even more outstanding. His average of 14.5 rebounds per game not only leads the NCAA League, but also makes him the most dominant rebounding champion in the past decade. In the restricted area, there is no player who can snatch rebounds with Zhou Zhihao, and his absolute advantage is rare in the college league.
During his time at Purdue, Zhou has developed all the qualities that a top-tier rookie should have. He's the absolute centerpiece and No. 1 offensive option for the team and comes close to averaging a staggering triple-double per game. Undoubtedly, such an outstanding college career laid a solid foundation for him to stand out in the NBA Draft.
The road to counterattack: from withdrawing from the election to the 9th place in the first round
After a stellar college basketball career, Zhou set his sights on the NBA league. However, the harsh reality of the NBA draft nearly ruined the rookie's dreams.
In the 2023 draft, Zhou Zhihao did not get much attention. Scouts from various teams generally believe that despite the outstanding statistics, Zhou Zhihao's physical fitness and technique are not mature enough to adapt to the high-intensity confrontation of the NBA. As a result, many experts predict that Chow's best outcome would be to be selected at the end of the first round.
Under all kinds of pressure, Zhou Zhihao decided to withdraw and return to school to play in the NCAA league for another year. It was a risky decision, and it could also mean the end of his NBA dream. As you get older, if you don't perform well, your rookie will be less attractive.
But Zhou Zhihao fought back against adversity with tenacious willpower. In his return to the NCAA season, he made a leap forward in every way. More technically proficient, more physically energetic, and more mentally mature. Eventually, he got his wish and led Purdue University into the ultimate battle of March madness, with an all-time high.
In the 2024 draft, Zhou Zhihao has become one of the most enthusiastic interior rookies chased by the teams. Everyone saw the player's amazing potential for improvement and unyielding will. In the end, the Grizzlies selected Zhou Zhihao with the 9th pick in the first round, making the NBA dream of the Chinese rookie come true.
From almost unpopular to No. 9 in the first round, Zhou Zhihao returned to the draft with an astonishing counterattack speed, completing the final cashing of his NBA ticket. This has also become one of the most inspirational stories of this draft.
Rising Chinese star: Zhou Zhihao's heavy responsibility
As a Chinese player, Zhou Zhihao has too many expectations on his shoulders. In the history of the NBA, there are very few Chinese stars, and Yao Ming can be described as an outlier. A Chinese-American player who rushed into the NBA like Yao Ming and achieved brilliant results in the league has not been able to reproduce it so far.
Therefore, whenever a Chinese player enters the NBA, it will receive special attention from all parties. People have speculated whether Zhou Zhihao can inherit Yao Ming's mantle and become a new generation of Chinese superstars.
However, compared with Yao Ming, Zhou Zhihao still has certain shortcomings. The first is the physical aspect. Despite being around 2.20 meters tall, Yao Ming has a longer arm span and a stronger body. This allows Yao Ming to easily deal with tough defenses and confrontations in the NBA.
Yao Ming has a softer touch and the ability to score inside, especially in the back singles, Zhou Zhihao still has a gap. Finally, in terms of footsteps and movement, Zhou Zhihao's footsteps are not as proficient as Yao Ming. It will have an impact on his defense.
Zhou Zhihao also has his unique advantages. He was born with a physical condition. At 2.24 meters, he is also among the best in an NBA center, and his 2.41 meter reach allows him to easily grab rebounds and create secondary attacks.
Zhou Zhihao has a strong psychological quality and potential for progress. His withdrawal from the NCAA to the NBA was proof of that. He will play for a strong Grizzlies team and be paired with new MVP winner Morant. This will undoubtedly help him grow.
We have reason to believe that through hard work, Zhou Zhihao can completely narrow the gap with Yao Ming and become a new generation of Chinese insiders. This is a long-term process that requires Zhou Zhihao's continuous efforts and growth. Compared with Yao Ming, Zhou Zhihao is more likely to gain a foothold in the league and become an inside core with stable output.
Zhou Zhihao is facing the most critical turning point in his career. We can't be blindly optimistic, and we can't expect too much because of our Chinese identity. As fans, we should be patient and give him time and space to grow.
Let's wait and see if this rising star can shine in the NBA's starry sky. This is not only about a person's dream, but also about the perception of Chinese players by those who come after them. We sincerely hope that Zhou Zhihao will become the next great Chinese star and make his own contribution to the development of this field.
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