WHY MORE EYES THAN EVER WILL BE ON NBL
AUSTRALIAN basketball legend Andrew Gaze has declared “millions” of Chinese basketball fans could have their eyes on the NBL on Saturday with the prospect of two countrymen going head-to head in what could be the most watched game in the competition’s history.
At 215cm, South East Phoenix big man Zhou Qi is put in the shade by Chuanxing Liu (pictured), who became the tallest signing in the NBL’s history when Brisbane Bullets locked in the 225cm development player.
While Liu, 22, has had limited game time with the Bullets this season, Qi has been a powerhouse in just the four games played by Phoenix in a season so interrupted by Covid the Melbourne outfit hasn’t played since last year.
Both have represented China and the prospect of the twin towers taking to the court together could mean an onslaught on eyeballs in their homeland via the live stream of the game.
There have even been suggestions it could surpass the two million views globally on Facebook when then-NBA draft prospects LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton played for Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers in 2019.
“It’s such a massive audience over there,” Gaze told SEN on Friday.
“I do not know how the South East
Melbourne Phoenix have been able to get him (Qi) to come to Australia because he was on mega bucks in China and he’s such a big, big figure over there.
“He (Qi) is a star and the audience over there and the interest in basketball is off the charts.
“This may sound stupid; literally hundreds of millions of people watching this game.”
They are the two tallest players in the NBL and Liu is the tallest man to have played in the NBL.
The Bullets are backing up from a loss to the Breakers last Sunday, while Phoenix hasn’t played since December 18 after Covid went through the playing group and forced them into isolation.
Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said there could be teething pains as his side returns to the court.
“There’s going to be some issues for us in regards to getting our momentum and getting our legs under us,” he said.
“But we’re confident we can overcome that with depth. We’re not in this business just to train. “We’ve had 31 training sessions since the first game and only played three games.
“It’s not something anyone is used to. There’s not a lot of information regarding what is the best way to handle it. But I’m looking forward to the players playing and watching them perform.”