2016 NBA Draft: Hardest names to pronounce, ranked

6. Zhou Qi, C, China

Whereas Yao Ming was a Chinese seven-footer whose name could be sounded out phonetically, draft analysts have no such luck with Zhou Qi. If the announcers who worked during the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship are any indication, Qi’s name is pronounced “Joe Chee,” which is bound to trip up an unsuspecting analyst or two on draft night.

Qi, who averaged 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in 34.2 minutes per game this past season with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers, boasted some of the most impressive measurements at May’s draft combine. He was the tallest prospect in attendance, coming in at 7’2.25″ in shoes, and his 7’7.75″ wingspan is one of the best in combine history, according to DraftExpress.

According to Jonathan Givony of The Vertical, the seven-footer “has reached an agreement… that will allow him to buy out his contract and join the NBA in 2017.” For the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, all four of whom own three first-round picks in this year’s draft, the fact Qi can’t come over until 2017 (at the earliest) may entice one of them to pull the trigger on him with one of their selections in the late teens or 20s.

Teams selecting in the mid- to late first round reportedly have interest in Qi, per DraftExpress, “because of his mobility, soft shooting touch and rim-protecting ability.” DX has him ranked 28th on its Top 100, but ESPN.com’s Chad Ford has him 71st with a projection of either a second-round pick or undrafted. That wide range of possibilities should have broadcasters on high alert, as it only takes one team falling in love with him as a draft-and-stash prospect for him to become a prime candidate for mispronunciation on June 23.

Next: 5. Guerschon Yabusele