While he was a child, Zou was bulkier than many of his peers and had the build of a basketball player.

His family immigrated from Anshan to Zhuhai during his childhood, but there was not a professional basketball team in those days.

Dai requested that the famous basketball coach Ma Yuenan attempt to persuade Zou's parents.

[2] Zou started as a member of the Juvenile Group in Liaoning's basketball team.

In March 2016, he was chosen to play in China men's national basketball team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.