Misplaced Pages

Latest revision as of 21:37, 11 December 2024

Yi Jianlian
易建联

Yi with the Washington Wizards in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1984-10-27) October 27, 1984 (age 40) Heshan, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	2007: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career	2002–2023
Position	Power forward / center
Number	3, 9, 31
Career history
2002–2007	Guangdong Southern Tigers
2007–2008	Milwaukee Bucks
2008–2010	New Jersey Nets
2010–2011	Washington Wizards
2011	Guangdong Southern Tigers
2012	Dallas Mavericks
2012	→Texas Legends
2012–2023	Guangdong Southern Tigers
Career highlights and awards
FIBA World Cup rebounding leader (2010) 6× CBA champion (2004–2006, 2013, 2019, 2020) 3× CBA Finals MVP (2006, 2013, 2019) 5× CBA Domestic MVP (2013–2016, 2020) 12× CBA All-Star (2004–2007, 2013–2020) 2× CBA Best Defender (2007, 2019) 2× CBA Slam Dunk leader (2015, 2016) 2× FIBA Asia Cup MVP (2011, 2015)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Men's basketball Representing  China FIBA Asia Cup 2005 Doha 2011 Wuhan 2015 Changsha 2009 Tianjin Asian Games 2006 Doha East Asian Games 2005 Macau FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship 2002 Kuwait FIBA Asia Under-20 Championship 2004 Tehran

Yi Jianlian (Chinese: 易建联; pinyin: Yì Jiànlián ; born October 27, 1984) is a Chinese former professional basketball player who last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He also played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks, the New Jersey Nets, the Washington Wizards, and the Dallas Mavericks.

Yi joined the Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2002–03 CBA season, and subsequently won the CBA Rookie of the Year award. In his first five years with Guangdong, the team won three CBA titles. In the 2007 NBA draft, he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick. Yi declined to sign with Milwaukee for several months but agreed to a contract in August 2007. He later played for three other NBA teams, then returned to the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2012.

Yi also played for the Chinese national team in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics and the 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships.

Early life

As a child, Yi's parents did not allow him to join a sports school, which is designed for children predicted to be future professional athletes. However, a sports school's basketball coach who saw him playing street basketball persuaded his family to allow him to train professionally. Hoping to sign Yi to an endorsement deal, Adidas invited him to attend the company's ABCD Camp in New Jersey in 2002, where he competed against all-American high school players.

Age controversy

In 2004, Yi was listed as being born in 1984 during the Four Nation Tournament, but Chinese officials said that it was probably a typographical error. Two years later, Fran Blinebury of The Houston Chronicle reported that Yi told Shane Battier he was 24 years old in an exhibition game before the 2006 FIBA World Championship, but the story was refuted by both Yi and Battier. Yi is not the first Chinese basketball player to come under scrutiny for age discrepancy, as former NBA player Wang Zhizhi had been listed as being born in both 1977 and 1979. In 2006, a senior Chinese official admitted that past youth squads had included players above the permitted age.

In 2007 and 2008, Yi's date of birth was further scrutinized as being October 27, 1984, including a Chinese reporter discovering a high school enrollment form from 1997 that listed Yi as being born on October 27, 1984.

Professional career

Guangdong Southern Tigers (2002–2007)

After returning to China in 2002, Yi signed a professional contract with Chinese Basketball Association side Guangdong Southern Tigers and averaged 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in his first season. He also averaged 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in four games during the playoffs, and won the Rookie of the Year award. Yi was featured in Time's August 2003 article titled "The Next Yao Ming". In each of his next three seasons, Yi led Guangdong to the CBA championship and he was awarded the CBA Finals Most Valuable Player honor in 2006. In Yi's final season in the Chinese Basketball Association before he entered the 2007 NBA draft, he averaged a career-high 24.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, but his team lost to the Bayi Rockets in the playoff finals.

Milwaukee Bucks (2007–2008)

Yi was not expected to enter the NBA draft until 2009 because the Chinese Basketball Association ruled that players are not allowed to leave for foreign leagues until they turned 22. In early 2006, however, Yi announced that he would enter the 2006 NBA draft although he eventually decided to withdraw, saying he was "not good enough to compete in the NBA and needed more experience." Later that year, the Guangdong Southern Tigers announced that Yi would enter the 2007 NBA draft.

Yi chose Dan Fegan as his agent to represent him in the NBA draft and flew to Los Angeles to participate in pre-NBA draft camps. Before the draft, Yi was predicted by many to be picked anywhere from third to twelfth. On June 28, 2007, Yi was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, despite Fegan warning the Milwaukee Bucks not to pick Yi and not allowing them to be one of the teams invited to Yi's pre-draft private workouts in Los Angeles. Fegan did not want Milwaukee to select Yi because the city of Milwaukee did not have a large Asian-American community. However, Milwaukee's general manager Larry Harris said they had only drafted the best player available to them. Yi and Sun Yue together marked the first time in NBA draft history where two Chinese-born players were selected in the same draft, which was a feat that would not be repeated again until 2016.

After the draft, Milwaukee attempted to convince Yi to sign with the team and on July 2, 2007, the owner of the Bucks franchise, Herb Kohl, wrote a letter to Yi and his representatives, hoping to persuade Yi to sign with the team. Three days later, head coach Larry Krystkowiak and Harris met with Yi, attempting to influence him to play for Milwaukee; however, Yi's representatives requested that the team trade Yi to another team with a city that had a large Chinese presence. Chinese officials also required that any team Yi played for would have to give him sufficient playing time for him to improve for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Kohl made a special trip to Hong Kong to appeal to Yi personally and he assured Chinese officials that Yi would have sufficient playing time. On August 29, 2007, the Milwaukee Bucks and Yi agreed to a standard, multi-year rookie contract.

Yi was named to Milwaukee's starting lineup by head coach Larry Krystkowiak in place of Charlie Villanueva to begin the 2007–08 season. He recorded nine points and three rebounds in a debut loss to the Orlando Magic. He played his first home game in Milwaukee three days later and scored 16 points while grabbing eight rebounds in a 78–72 win over the Chicago Bulls. The game was also Yi's first game to be televised nationally in China, where it was watched by an estimated 100 million viewers. Yao Ming praised Yi's play in his first few games, saying, "If you compare us in our third NBA games, you will see that Yi's statistics are far better than mine."

On November 9, 2007, Yi played against Yao Ming for the first time when the Houston Rockets hosted Milwaukee in a 104–88 loss. Yi recorded 19 points and nine rebounds, including two three-pointers, while Yao recorded 28 points and nine rebounds. The game between the two was watched by over 200 million people in China, making it one of the most-watched games in NBA history. After the game, Yao called Yi's talent "unbelievable" and Tracy McGrady said that Yi had a "tremendous upside in this league". Del Harris, the former head coach of the Chinese national basketball team, also described Yi as the "most athletic seven-footer in the NBA."

Yi was named the NBA Rookie of the Month for December 2007 after averaging 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game that month, while scoring a career-high 29 points on 14-of-17 shooting in a win over the Charlotte Bobcats on December 22. On January 30, 2008, he was selected for the rookie team in the Rookie Challenge at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. On February 2, 2008, Yi faced Yao for the second time when Milwaukee played at home against Houston, which Krystkowiak dubbed the "Chinese Super Bowl." However, both players struggled during Houston's 91–83 victory over Milwaukee. Yao scored 12 points while Yi injured his shoulder during the game, finishing with just six points.

On April 2, 2008, it was announced that Yi would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Having already missed eight games with other injuries, Yi managed 66 out of a possible 82 games in his rookie season, averaging 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. One of Milwaukee's assistant coaches, Brian James, later said that "the injuries he had bothered him more than people realized, and he couldn't play through them."

New Jersey Nets (2008–2010)

On June 26, 2008, Yi was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks along with Bobby Simmons to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Richard Jefferson. New Jersey's team president Rod Thorn said that "we feel strongly he's going to be a real good player," and the team's chief executive Brett Yormark said "it opens up a truly new fan base for us." Yi stated that he didn't expect to be traded, but that it was "an honor to join the Nets."

Through his first 37 games with New Jersey, Yi averaged 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from behind the three-point line, which was well above his average from the previous season. But on January 9, 2009, Yi broke the pinkie on his right hand and was expected to miss four to six weeks. Thorn called it "lousy timing" because "he'd been playing well," but Yi said "(I'll) just take my time. I'll come back." In voting for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Yi finished third in total votes for forwards in the Eastern Conference, ahead of players such as Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh.

Yi made his return from injury after the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in a loss to the Houston Rockets on February 17, 2009. However, after averaging only six points on 36% shooting after his return, Yi was removed from the team's starting lineup. His final averages for the season were 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, as well as a 38% shooting accuracy from the field and 34% on three-point field goals. After New Jersey finished the season outside of the playoffs, Yi's agent Dan Fegan suggested New Jersey played better when Yi played more minutes and took more shots, and asks "who's accountable?" New Jersey's head coach Lawrence Frank said that "you have to be patient. He's only 21", and Yi assessed his season by saying he was "still too much up and down."

In the 2009–10 season, Yi returned to the starting lineup for New Jersey. Starting in every game he played but one, Yi suffered several injuries during the season which made him miss 30 games. He sprained his medial collateral ligament on November 4, 2009, had a laceration on his upper lip on December 8, 2009, and sprained his left ankle on 8 March 2010. His final averages for the season were 12 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, as well as 40% shooting accuracy from the field and 37% on three-point field goals.

Washington Wizards (2010–2011)

On June 29, 2010, Yi was traded to the Washington Wizards along with $3 million in cash considerations for Quinton Ross. Yi ended the 2010–11 season averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Washington had until June 30, 2011, to extend Yi's contract but decided not to do so.

Return to the Tigers (2011)

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Yi signed a one-year contract to return to the Guangdong Southern Tigers. Unlike most NBA players who went to the Chinese Basketball Association during that time, he received an option to return to the NBA once the lockout had been resolved.

Dallas Mavericks (2012)

On January 6, 2012, Yi signed with the Dallas Mavericks to a one-year contract after starting the season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers. He was immediately assigned to Dallas' D-League affiliate team, the Texas Legends. Yi benefited from the new collective bargaining agreement rules which allowed players with more than two years of NBA experience to be assigned to the D-League with the players' consent. On January 9, 2012, after playing two games for the Texas Legends, averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game, he was recalled by Dallas. The team faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs and in game 3 of the playoff series, Yi played in his first NBA playoffs game, where he scored two points for the team in five minutes.

Third stint in Guangdong (2012–2023)

Yi re-joined the Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2012–13 CBA season and went on to win a fourth championship that season.

On August 22, 2016, Yi signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, returning to the NBA for the first time since 2012. Lakers head coach Luke Walton considered Yi to be the team's best-shooting big man during the preseason, but did not provide Yi with much of a role. Yi averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game over six contests with the Lakers during the preseason. Feeling he would have better opportunities elsewhere, Yi requested a release from the Lakers prior to the start of the regular season. The Lakers waived him on October 24, 2016.

In October 2016, Yi returned to Guangdong after spending training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.

On August 15, 2020, Yi helped the Guangdong Southern Tigers in winning their 10th CBA championship after a 123–115 win in game 3 of the CBA Finals over the Liaoning Flying Leopards, but Yi had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the game and was expected to miss a major part of 2020–21 CBA season due to rehabilitation.

The 2022–23 CBA season was Yi's final basketball season where he made the decision to retire on August 30, 2023. He wrote on Sina Weibo: "Time flies; in the blink of an eye, basketball has been by my side for 21 years. After much contemplation, I have made the decision to officially bring my basketball career to a close. I will cherish the memories of the past while continuing to move forward, embracing new chapters in my life. Goodbye, my beloved basketball."

National team career

Yi's first major international experience came at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in which he averaged 18.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. He made his debut with the Chinese national basketball team during the 2004 Summer Olympics and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds per game at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. His performance impressed coaches on the Chinese national team as well as the coaches from other countries.

In 2008, Yi was once again selected to play for the Chinese national team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In China's first two group stage matches, Yi scored 9 and 4 points, respectively, and China lost both their games against the United States and Spain. But in a win against Angola, Yi recorded a double-double, and in a win against Germany, Yi recorded 9 points and 11 rebounds, and hit the crucial shot with 28 seconds left to help China advance to the quarter-finals. However, Lithuania ended China's run by beating them 94–68, as Yi scored 11 points for his side.

Yi, along with former NBA player Sun Yue, was a member of the Chinese national team that played at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship and the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship. Yi was named the most valuable player of the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, averaging 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Yi also played for the Chinese national team during the 2012 Summer Olympics, ranking first in rebounds per game with 10.2 per game and ranking second in blocks with 2.2 per game. He also played at the 2016 Summer Olympics. During 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Yi was still the leader on the Chinese national team, averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In the match with Nigeria, he displayed the best performance for the national team in recent years. Yi got 27 points and a player efficiency of 26.

Personal life

Yi is fluent in both Mandarin and his native tongue of Cantonese. He was ranked fourth on Forbes' China Celebrity 100 in income and popularity in 2008. In 2008, Yi donated 100,000 yuan to support the 2008 Sichuan earthquake victims and also participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics' torch relay by carrying the torch during the Hainan leg of the relay.

In October 2024, Yi Jianlian embroiled in a sex scandal involving the solicitation of a transgender woman, purportedly paying her US$1,500. A staff member from the Dongguan Municipal CPPCC confirmed they were aware of the scandal but could not verify its authenticity. Several brands that had previously collaborated with Yi swiftly removed promotional materials related to him, and Yi has not made any public response to the accusations.

Career statistics

CBA

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

References

1. ^ "Yi Jianlian - New Jersey Nets". NBA.com. October 27, 1987. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
2. ^ "Yi Jianlian Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. October 27, 1987. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
3. "Jianlian Yi". NBA.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
4. China's Olympic men's basketball streak in danger; Iran, Nigeria qualify for Tokyo
5. ^ Li, Xiao (September 22, 2003). "Little Giant Yi Jianlian: I Want to Play NBA Basketball". China.org.cn. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
6. ^ Larmer, Brook (August 24, 2003). "What's Next?". Time. Archived from the original on September 4, 2003. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
7. ^ "NBA.com : Yi Jianlian Bio Page". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
8. Smith, Aran (July 14, 2004). "Yi Jianlian actually 19 years old". NBADraft.net. Archived from the original on December 22, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
9. 美媒体再炒易建联年龄 一夜老了三岁潜力不再 (in Chinese). July 19, 2004. Archived from the original on December 1, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
10. Blinebury, Fran (August 26, 2006). "China rushing to match talent on court before 2008 Olympics". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
11. 年龄问题再次引起争论易建联怒斥巴蒂尔太无聊 (in Chinese). EastDay.com. August 29, 2006. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
12. "巴蒂尔：易建联定有望进入NBA 我不知道他几岁" (in Chinese). 163.com. August 29, 2006. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
13. "ESPN – ZhiZhi Wang Stats, News, and Photos". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
14. "Player profile: Wang Zhizhi, 2006 FIBA World Championship". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
15. "China admits to age fraud". Fox Sports. November 15, 2006. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
16. "易建联年龄水落石出 学籍表毕业照暴露秘密(图)". Sohu.com (in Chinese). December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
17. "易建联谎言被揭穿 真实年龄铁证曝光 即将23岁". CCTV.com (in Chinese). August 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
18. ^ "2006 FIBA World Championships". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
19. Rui, Zhau (November 3, 2006). "Yi can enter 2007 NBA draft". Retrieved March 2, 2007.
20. "China's Yi Jianlian not ready for NBA yet". xinhuanet.com. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
21. "Chinese prospect Yi gets permission to enter '07 draft". ESPN.com. November 3, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
22. Sheridan, Chris (November 8, 2006). "Fegan will represent Yi for contract, marketing". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
23. "NBA Draft 2007: What's the Consensus?". NBA.com. June 9, 2007. Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2008.
24. ^ Gardner, Charles F. (August 29, 2007). "Yi finally signs with the Bucks". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
25. Marcus, David (July 1, 2007). "Senator Asks Chinese Star to Consider Bucks". todaystmj4.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
26. "Bucks meet with Yi in Las Vegas, begin lobbying". ESPN.com. July 6, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
27. "Bucks officials travel to Hong Kong, sign Yi". ESPN.com. August 29, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
28. "Rookie to start Bucks' opener; Villanueva to come off bench". ESPN.com. October 30, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
29. "Lewis, Turkoglu lead Magic 3-point barrage in 102-83 victory over Milwaukee". Yahoo! Sports. October 31, 2007. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
30. "Redd, Yi Lead Bucks Past Bulls". NBA.com. November 4, 2007. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
31. ^ "Chinese media hail Yi's NBA game". China Daily. November 5, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
32. ^ "Yao's Rockets Beat Yi's Bucks". NBA.com. November 10, 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
33. Ludden, Johnny (November 10, 2007). "Rookie Yi impresses elder statesman Yao". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
34. "Yi, Durant Named Rookies of the Month". NBA.com. January 2, 2008. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
35. "Yi Scores Career-High 29, Leads Bucks Over Bobcats". NBA.com. December 23, 2007. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
36. "Roy Headlines T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam". NBA.com. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
37. ^ "McGrady Sparks Rockets' Offense". NBA.com. February 2, 2008. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
38. ^ Elund, Tom (April 2, 2008). "Knee injury forces Yi out for rest of season". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
39. ^ "Yi Jianlian Info Page". NBA.com. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
40. D'Alessandro, Dave (October 25, 2008). "It's a tough call, but New Jersey Nets banking on Yi". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
41. ^ Marc Stein (June 26, 2008). "Nets send top scorer Jefferson to Bucks for Yi, Simmons". ESPN.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
42. Robinson, Joshua (June 28, 2008). "By Adding Yi, Nets Hope to Expand Their Market". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
43. "Yi, Simmons traded for Richard Jefferson". beijing2008.cn. Archived from the original on September 2, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
44. "Yi Jianlian Career Stats Page". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
45. ^ Garcia, Julian (January 11, 2009). "Yi Jianlian & Nets find that pinkie injury is bad break". Daily News (New York). Retrieved February 8, 2009.
46. Duncan, Chris (February 17, 2009). "Battier, Yao lead Rockets past Nets 114-88". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
47. Kerber, Fred (March 27, 2009). "Yi Out, Anderson In, Devin Gametime". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
48. "NBA Standings 2008-09". ESPN. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
49. D'Allesandro, Dave (April 12, 2009). "Agent suggests New Jersey Nets are to blame for Yi Jianlian's stalled development". New Jersey Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
50. "Yi Jianlian". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
51. "NBA.com/Stats". NBA.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
52. "2009–10 New Jersey Nets". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
53. Ford, Chad (June 29, 2010). "Nets trade Yi to Wizards". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
54. "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post. June 18, 2011.
55. "NBA star Yi Jianlian back to China-Stars-chinadaily.com.cn". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
56. Wojnarowski, Adrian (November 29, 2011). "China could block NBA players return". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
57. Caplan, Jeff (January 6, 2012). "Mavericks sign forward Yi Jianlian". ESPN. Contributed by Mark Stein. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
58. "Dallas Mavericks Assign Yi Jianlian to Texas Legends". NBA. January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
59. "NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Seen Giving Boost To NBA Development League". NBA. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
60. "Mavs recall Yi Jianlian from D-League affiliate". NBA. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
61. Caplan, Jeff (January 9, 2012). "Yi Jianlian will join Mavs in Detroit". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
62. "Mavs-Thunder box score". NBA. May 3, 2012. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
63. Sun, Xiaochen (September 25, 2012). "No Chinese in NBA as Yi returns to CBA". China Daily. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
64. "Lakers Sign Yi Jianlian". NBA.com. August 22, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
65. Britton, Patrick (August 17, 2016). "Report: Lakers, Yi Jianlian finalizing 1-year, $8M deal". TheScore.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
66. Ganguli, Tania (October 24, 2016). "Yi Jianlian asks for his release from the Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
67. "Lakers Waive Yi Jianlian". NBA.com. October 24, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
68. Meersmans, Huberto (October 30, 2016). "YI JIANLIAN REGRESA A CHINA TRAS PEDIR A LOS LAKERS QUE LE CORTARAN". NBADestiny.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
69. "Yi Jianlian announces his retirement from basketball". August 30, 2023.
70. "USA-China Post Game Quotes (August 7, 2006)". USA Basketball. August 7, 2006. Archived from the original on August 20, 2006. Retrieved September 7, 2006.
71. "Results Men's Preliminary Round Group B- Game 12 / United StatesUSA 101 vs 70 ChinaCHN". beijing2008.cn. Archived from the original on August 13, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
72. "Results Men's Preliminary Round Group B- Game 22 / ChinaCHN 75 vs 85 SpainESP". beijing2008.cn. Archived from the original on August 15, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
73. "Results: Men's Preliminary Round Group B- Game 33". beijing2008.cn. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 17, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
74. "Results: Men's Preliminary Round Group B- Game 47". beijing2008.cn. August 16, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
75. Blinebury, Fran (August 16, 2008). "Yao leads China over Germany at Olympics". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
76. "Results: Men's Quarterfinal – Game 66". beijing2008.cn. August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
77. "Information – FIBA Asian Calendar Events 2009". fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
78. "CHN - Make way the rest: China's new leader Yi is here". September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
79. "易建联亲口承认将担任旗手 "最高机密"水落石出". Xinhua Net. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013.
80. "Yao Ming leads Forbes' Chinese celebrity list for fifth year". Xinhau. March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
81. "Chinese athletes donate to earthquake-hit area". Xinhau. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
82. "China welcomes home Olympic flame". May 4, 2008. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
83. Yating Yang (October 21, 2024). "Disgraced China basketball legend brings attention to other mainland stars' sex scandals". South China Morning Post.
84. Zhang Long (October 17, 2024). "Ex-basketball star Yi Jianlian mired in prostitution claims". Shanghai Daily.

External links

• Career statistics from NBA.com  and Basketball Reference
• Yi Jianlian Archived April 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine at nba.com

Links to related articles

Olympic Games Preceded byYao Ming Flagbearer for  China London 2012 Succeeded byLei Sheng v t e 2007 NBA draft First round Greg Oden Kevin Durant Al Horford Mike Conley Jeff Green Yi Jianlian Corey Brewer Brandan Wright Joakim Noah Spencer Hawes Acie Law Thaddeus Young Julian Wright Al Thornton Rodney Stuckey Nick Young Sean Williams Marco Belinelli Javaris Crittenton Jason Smith Daequan Cook Jared Dudley Wilson Chandler Rudy Fernández Morris Almond Aaron Brooks Arron Afflalo Tiago Splitter Alando Tucker Petteri Koponen Second round Carl Landry Gabe Pruitt Marcus Williams Nick Fazekas Glen Davis Jermareo Davidson Josh McRoberts Kyrylo Fesenko Stanko Barać Sun Yue Chris Richard Derrick Byars Adam Haluska Reyshawn Terry Jared Jordan Stéphane Lasme Dominic McGuire Marc Gasol Aaron Gray Renaldas Seibutis JamesOn Curry Taurean Green Demetris Nichols Brad Newley Herbert Hill Ramon Sessions Sammy Mejía Giorgos Printezis D. J. Strawberry Milovan Raković v t e Forbes China Celebrity 100 top 10 (by year) 2004 Yao Ming Zhang Ziyi Zhao Wei Faye Wong Gong Li Zhang Yimou Zhou Xun Leon Lai Sun Nan Jet Li 2005 Yao Ming Zhang Ziyi Liu Xiang Zhao Wei Faye Wong Zhang Yimou Zhou Xun Sun Nan Carina Lau Fan Bingbing 2006 Yao Ming Zhou Xun Zhang Ziyi Zhao Wei Liu Xiang Li Yuchun Fan Bingbing Chen Kaige Sun Nan Li Bingbing 2007 Yao Ming Liu Xiang Zhang Yimou Zhang Ziyi Gong Li Zhou Xun Fan Bingbing Li Yuchun Xu Jinglei Carina Lau 2008 Yao Ming Liu Xiang Jet Li Yi Jianlian Zhang Ziyi Fan Bingbing Zhao Wei Zhou Xun Li Bingbing Zhao Benshan 2009 Yao Ming Zhang Ziyi Yi Jianlian Guo Jingjing Liu Xiang Jet Li Zhao Wei Fan Bingbing Zhou Xun Li Bingbing 2010 Jackie Chan Jay Chou Andy Lau Yao Ming Zhang Ziyi Zhao Benshan Jolin Tsai Donnie Yen Liu Xiang Fan Bingbing 2011 Andy Lau Jay Chou Faye Wong Jackie Chan Yao Ming Donnie Yen Zhang Ziyi Jet Li Fan Bingbing Zhao Benshan 2012 Jay Chou Andy Lau Fan Bingbing Faye Wong Li Na Zhao Benshan Jolin Tsai Yao Ming Jackie Chan Lin Chi-ling 2013 Fan Bingbing Jay Chou Andy Lau Jackie Chan Zhang Ziyi Eason Chan Yang Mi Huang Xiaoming Jolin Tsai Lin Chi-ling 2014 Fan Bingbing Andy Lau Jay Chou Huang Xiaoming Zhang Ziyi Yang Mi Lin Chi-ling Li Na Nicky Wu Jackie Chan 2015 Fan Bingbing Jay Chou Nicholas Tse Jackie Chan Huang Xiaoming Sun Li Zhao Wei Andy Lau Li Yifeng Eason Chan 2017 Fan Bingbing Luhan Yang Mi Zhao Liying Yang Yang Liu Tao Jackie Chan Angelababy Jay Chou Kris Wu 2019 Wu Jing Huang Bo Hu Ge Xu Zheng Jay Chou Shen Teng Zhou Dongyu Jackson Yee Yang Mi Kris Wu 2020 Jackson Yee Xu Zheng Zhou Dongyu Jay Chou Lay Zhang Yang Mi Zhao Liying Kris Wu Wang Yibo Wang Junkai 2021 Jackson Yee Wang Yibo Jia Ling Yang Mi Jay Chou Lay Zhang Zhao Liying Yang Zi Wang Junkai Jackson Wang In 2010, the list started to include Chinese celebrities born in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries. Prior to that it only included celebrities born in mainland China. v t e CBA Finals MVP League MVP 2000 Wang Z. 2001 Yao 2002 Liu 2003 Liu Finals MVP 2004 Du 2005 Zhu 2006 Yi 2007 Wang Z. 2008 Zhu 2009 Zhu 2010 Zhu 2011 Wang S. 2012 Lee 2013 Yi 2014 Morris 2015 Marbury 2016 Haddadi 2017 Adams 2018 Hudson 2019 Yi 2020 Weems 2021 Hu 2022 Zhao 2023 Zhao 2024 Fogg v t e Chinese Basketball Association MVP CBA Regular Season MVP (1996–2012) 1996 Hu 1997 Hu 1998 Gong 1999 Sun 2000 Wang 2001 Yao 2002 Liu 2003 Sun 2004 Tang 2005 Tang 2006 Bateer (vacated) 2007 Tang 2008 Zhu 2009 Bateer 2010 Bateer 2011 Bateer 2012 Zhu CBA Regular Season Domestic MVP (2013–present) 2013 Yi 2014 Yi 2015 Yi 2016 Yi 2017 Ding 2018 Ding 2019 Wang 2020 Yi 2021 Wu 2022 Hu 2023 Wang 2024 Abdusalam CBA Regular Season International MVP (2013–present) 2013 Marbury 2014 Hudson 2015 Hudson 2016 Beasley 2017 Fredette 2018 Fortson 2019 Adams 2020 Young 2021 Brooks 2022 Felder 2023 Jones 2024 Sullinger v t e China squad – 2009 FIBA Asia Championship – Silver medal 4 Hu X.F. 5 Liu W. 6 Zhang Q.P. 7 Wang S.P. 8 Zhu F.Y. 9 Sun Y. 10 Li X.X. 11 Yi J.L. 12 Wang L. 13 Su W. 14 Wang Z.Z. 15 Du F. Coach: Guo Shiqiang v t e China squad – 2011 FIBA Asia Championship – Gold medal 4 Ding J.H. 5 Liu W. 6 Zhang B. 7 Yi L. 8 Zhu F.Y. 9 Sun Y. 10 Zhang Z.X. 11 Yi J.L. 12 Yu S.L. 13 Su W. 14 Wang Z.Z. 15 Xirelijiang Coach: Donewald v t e China squad – 2015 FIBA Asia Championship – Gold medal 4 Zhao J. 5 Liu W. 6 Guo A. 7 Zhao T. 8 Ding Y. 9 Zhai X. 10 Zhou P. 11 Yi J.L. 12 Li G. 13 Li M. 14 Wang Z. 15 Zhou Q. Coach: Gong L. v t e Xinhua News Agency's Top Ten Chinese Athletes of the Year 1999 Sun Wen (Football) Xie Jun (Chess) Liu Guoliang (Table tennis) Liu Hongyu (Athletics) Wang Nan (Table tennis) Dong Zhen (Gymnastics) Chen Hua (Swimming) Sun Jun (Badminton) Li Jiajun (Short track speed skating) Shi Zhiyong (Weightlifting) 2000 Xiong Ni (Diving) Li Xiaopeng (Gymnastics) Fu Mingxia (Diving) Sun Wen (Football) Ji Xinpeng (Badminton) Kong Linghui (Table tennis) Wang Nan (Table tennis) Wang Liping (Athletics) Xie Jun (Chess) Tao Luna (Shooting) 2001 Wang Nan (Table tennis) Zhu Chen (Chess) Wang Liqin (Table tennis) Luo Xuejuan (Swimming) Yuan Hua (Judo) Dong Yanmei (Athletics) Sun Wen (Football) Yang Yang (A) (Short track speed skating) Wang Zhizhi (Basketball) Chen Ying (Shooting) 2002 Yang Yang (A) (Short track speed skating) Yao Ming (Basketball) Li Xiaopeng (Gymnastics) Qi Hui (Swimming) Tao Luna (Shooting) Tan Xue (Fencing) Wu Meijin (Weightlifting) Wu Peng (Swimming) Zhang Yining (Table tennis) Liu Xiang (Athletics) 2003 Yao Ming (Basketball) Li Xiaopeng (Gymnastics) Luo Xuejuan (Swimming) Zhao Ruirui (Volleyball) Wang Nan (Table tennis) Liu Xiang (Athletics) Liu Chunhong (Weightlifting) Sun Yingjie (Athletics) Shen Xue (Figure skating) Zhao Hongbo (Figure skating) 2004 Liu Xiang (Athletics) Zhang Yining (Table tennis) Yao Ming (Basketball) Du Li (Shooting) Luo Xuejuan (Swimming) Meng Guanliang/Yang Wenjun (Canoeing) Feng Kun (Volleyball) Guo Jingjing (Diving) Zhang Ning (Badminton) Tang Gonghong (Weightlifting) 2005 Yao Ming (Basketball) Guo Jingjing (Diving) Zhang Ning (Badminton) Zou Shiming (Amateur Boxing) Chang Hao (Go) Zhang Yining (Table tennis) Liu Xiang (Athletics) Chen Yanqing (Weightlifting) Cheng Fei (Gymnastics) Wu Peng (Swimming) 2006 Liu Xiang (Athletics) Yao Ming (Basketball) Han Xiaopeng (Freestyle skiing) Yang Wei (Gymnastics) Wang Meng (Short track speed skating) Ding Junhui (Snooker) Zheng Jie/Yan Zi (Tennis) Wang Lei (Fencing) Wu Peng (Swimming) Chen Yanqing (Weightlifting) 2007 Liu Xiang (Athletics) Yang Wei (Gymnastics) Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo (Figure skating) Zhu Qinan (Shooting) Guo Jingjing (Diving) Zhang Guozheng (Weightlifting) Zhu Lin (Badminton) Zou Shiming (Amateur Boxing) Wu Peng (Swimming) Guo Yue (Table tennis) 2008 Guo Jingjing (Diving) Liu Zige (Swimming) Zhang Juanjuan (Archery) Zhang Yining (Table tennis) Zhong Man (Fencing) Zou Shiming (Amateur Boxing) Yang Wei (Gymnastics) Yin Jian (Sailing) Du Jianping (Para swimming) Tsering Wangmo (Mountain climbing) 2009 Zhang Lin (Swimming) Guo Jingjing (Diving) Liu Zige (Swimming) Bai Xue (Athletics) Lin Dan (Badminton) Wang Meng (Short track speed skating) Wang Hao (Table tennis) Liu Xiang (Athletics) Long Qingquan (Weightlifting) Zhang Yining (Table tennis) 2010 Liu Xiang (Athletics) Lao Yi (Athletics) Sun Yang (Swimming) Wang Meng (Short track speed skating) Zhou Suhong (Volleyball) Lin Dan (Badminton) Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo (Figure skating) Li Na (Tennis) Jiang Wenwen/Jiang Tingting (Artistic Swimming) Hou Yifan (Chess) 2011 Li Na (Tennis) Sun Yang (Swimming) Zhang Jike (Table tennis) Lin Dan (Badminton) Hou Yifan (Chess) Li Yanfeng (Athletics) Wu Minxia (Diving) Li Na (Fencing) Chen Yibing (Gymnastics) Liu Xiang (Athletics) 2012 Sun Yang (Swimming) Xu Lijia (Sailing) Lin Dan (Badminton) Ye Shiwen (Swimming) Qieyang Shijie (Athletics) Zou Kai (Gymnastics) Lei Sheng (Fencing) Zhang Jike (Table tennis) Feng Shanshan (Golf) Xiong Chaozhong (Professional boxing) 2013 Li Xiaoxia (Table tennis) Ding Junhui (Snooker) Lin Dan (Badminton) Zheng Zhi (Football) Zhang Peimeng (Athletics) Guo Chuan (Marine navigation) Li Na (Tennis) Xiong Chaozhong (Professional boxing) Liao Hui (Weightlifting) He Chong (Diving) 2014 Li Na (Tennis) Ning Zetao (Swimming) Zhang Hong (Speed Skating) Zhang Jike (Table tennis) Yang Haoran (Shooting) Liao Hui (Weightlifting) Lin Dan (Badminton) Yao Jinnan (Gymnastics) Chen Penbin (Ultra-marathon) Zhu Ting (Volleyball) 2015 Su Bingtian (Athletics) Ning Zetao (Swimming) Zhu Ting (Volleyball) Liu Hong (Athletics) Sun Yang (Swimming) Guo Chuan (Marine navigation) Yi Jianlian (Basketball) Chen Penbin (Ultra-marathon) Chen Long (Badminton) Zheng Zhi (Football) 2016 Zhu Ting (Volleyball) Guo Chuan (Marine navigation) Ke Jie (Go) Sun Yang (Swimming) Zhong Tianshi/Gong Jinjie (Track Cycling) Ding Ning (Table tennis) Zhao Shuai (Taekwondo) Han Tianyu (Short track speed skating) Wang Zhen (Athletics) Chen Aisen (Diving) 2017 Sun Yang (Swimming) Gong Lijiao (Athletics) Feng Shanshan (Golf) Zhu Ting (Volleyball) Xu Jiayu (Swimming) Ding Ning (Table tennis) Sui Wenjing/Han Cong (Figure skating) Shi Tingmao (Diving) Xiao Ruoteng (Gymnastics) Luo Jing (Mountain climbing) 2018 Wu Dajing (Short track speed skating) Su Bingtian (Athletics) Xu Jiayu (Swimming) Zhu Ting (Volleyball) Ju Wenjun (Chess) Wang Shuang (Football) Wu Lei (Football) Gong Lijiao (Athletics) Shi Tingmao (Diving) Xiao Ruoteng (Gymnastics) 2019 China women's national volleyball team (Volleyball) Sui Wenjing/Han Cong (Figure skating) Gong Lijiao (Athletics) Liu Shiwen (Table tennis) Sun Yang (Swimming) Xu Can (Professional boxing) Shi Tingmao (Diving) Yi Jianlian (Basketball) Cai Xuetong (Snowboarding) Deng Wei (Weightlifting) 2020 No selection due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Yang Qian (Shooting) Su Bingtian (Athletics) Shi Tingmao (Diving) Ma Long (Table tennis) Gong Lijiao (Athletics) Ailing Eileen Gu (Freestyle skiing) Lü Xiaojun (Weightlifting) Zhang Yufei (Swimming) Wang Shun (Swimming) Chen Yufei (Badminton) 2022 Ailing Eileen Gu (Freestyle skiing) Gao Tingyu (Speed skating) Su Yiming (Snowboarding) Xu Mengtao (Freestyle skiing) Wang Jianan (Athletics) Sui Wenjing/Han Cong (Figure skating) Yang Hongqiong (Para cross-country skiing) Zheng Qinwen (Tennis) Zhang Weili (Mixed martial) Chen Yuxi/Quan Hongchan (Diving) 2023 Ding Liren (Chess) Wang Chuqin (Table tennis) China women's national basketball team (Basketball) Wen Xiaoyan (Para Athletics) Liu Qingyi (Breaking) Zhang Zhizhen (Tennis) Zhang Yufei (Swimming) Dong Hongjuan (Mountain climbing) Qin Haiyang (Swimming) Xie Zhenye (Athletics) 2024 Ma Long (Table tennis) China national rhythmic gymnastics team (Gymnastics) Deng Yawen (BMX) Deng Zhixuan (Wushu) Quan Hongchan (Diving) Yang Jiayu (Athletics) Zheng Qinwen (Tennis) Sheng Lihao (Shooting) Jiang Yuyan (Para Swimming) Pan Zhanle (Swimming)

• 1987 births
• Living people
• 2006 FIBA World Championship players
• 2010 FIBA World Championship players
• 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
• Age controversies
• Asian Games gold medalists for China
• Asian Games medalists in basketball
• Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
• Basketball players at the 2006 Asian Games
• Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Basketball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
• Basketball players from Guangdong
• Cantonese people
• Chinese men's basketball players
• Chinese expatriate basketball people in the United States
• Dallas Mavericks players
• Guangdong Southern Tigers players
• Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games
• Milwaukee Bucks draft picks
• Milwaukee Bucks players
• NBA players from China
• New Jersey Nets players
• Olympic basketball players for China
• People from Heshan
• Power forwards
• Texas Legends players
• Washington Wizards players