Zhou Qi back in Houston to seek new offer from NBA

Chinese basketball player Zhou Qi has returned to Houston for training while he seeks a new offer from the NBA, according to a Tencent Sport report that cited ESPN's Yuan Fang.

Zhou came back to China earlier this month after he was waived by the Houston Rockets in December and said he was still waiting for news about his future.

Zhou risks an unemployed season because his P-1 visa expired with the waiver, and a new application could take months with the U.S. government shutdown, provided there are teams that are interested in signing him.

Houston Rockets forward Zhou Qi (9) passes the ball in front of Memphis Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Houston. [File Photo: AP/Michael Wyke]

Zhou can't return to the CBA either as he missed the deadline for pre-registration, according to Chinese Basketball Association president and former Houston player Yao Ming.

Zhou was picked by the Houston Rockets at 43rd overall in the 2016 NBA draft. The 7'1" forward/center signed a 4-year contract with the franchise the following year.

He spent the majority of the past two seasons playing for Houston's single-affiliation G League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Zhou only played one game for the Rockets this season due to an ankle injury. He made a total of 19 appearances during his spell in Houston, averaging 1.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 7 blocks.

Before he joined the NBA, Zhou was a member of the CBA's Xinjiang Flying Tigers and won the 2016/17 championship with the team.

Zhou also won a gold medal with China's Red Team at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia last year.