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Yi Jianlian
易建联

Milwaukee Bucks
Position	Power forward
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1987-10-27) October 27, 1987 (age 37) (disputed) He Shan, Guangdong, China
Nationality	China
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	2007: 1 round, 6 overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career	2002–present
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Template:Chinese name Yi Jianlian (Chinese: 易建聯, Pinyin: Yì Jiànlián) (born October 27, 1987 (this has been questioned; see below), in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China) is a Chinese professional basketball player. He plays as power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) after being selected by the Bucks with the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He previously played for Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

His name is Simplified Chinese: 易建联, Cantonese: Yik Kin Luen.

Career

Pre-NBA Career

Yi’s father is 1.99 meters (6’6”) tall, his mother is 1.72 meters (5’8”) and both of them were retired professional handball players. Yi started playing basketball when he was 12, was 1.93 meters (6’3”) by the time he was 13, and could already touch 3.51 meters (11'5”) by the time he joined the Guangdong Tigers in 2002. In the same year, Yi Jianlian attended the Adidas ABCD camp in New Jersey.

He first gained worldwide recognition when he was featured in TIME Magazine's August 24, 2003 article titled, "The Next Yao Ming."

He won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2002-03 CBA season, and won three championships with Guangdong. In February of 2005, Yi shot 16 of 16 from the field, scoring 34 points. In what was probably Yi's last year in the CBA, the Tigers lost to the Bayi Rockets in the 2007 CBA finals, failing to win their fourth straight title.

Internationally, he averaged 18.9 points 11.5 rebounds a game at FIBA Under-19 World Championships. He debuted with the senior national team in the 2004 Olympic Games, and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds a game at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, impressing coaches on both the Chinese national team as well as the coaches from other countries.

NBA Draft

Yi was not expected to enter the NBA Draft until 2009 because the Chinese Basketball Association does not allow players to leave until they turn 22. In early 2006, he announced 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." However, on November 1st, 2006, Yi's club, the Guangdong Tigers, announced that Yi would enter the 2007 NBA Draft. It was reported in China that Yi only wants to play for the Chicago Bulls or the Golden State Warriors.

Yi chose NBA agent Dan Fegan to represent him in the NBA Draft. He also flew to Los Angeles to participate in pre-NBA Draft camps.

On June 28, 2007, Yi was taken 6th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. There is still controversy on whether Yi will play in Milwaukee. The Bucks are currently talking to Yi's representatives and are planning to have Yi play for them in the 2007-2008 season.

Age discrepancy

Yi is now 49 american years old. His son, Yao Ming is curently in the NBA playing for the Houston Rockets.

Personal

Yi is fluent in both Mandarin and his home language of Cantonese. He also takes daily English classes, and now does interviews and conversations in English without an interpreter.

He is currently under contract with Nike to advertise their products within China.

References

1. ^ Xiao, Li (September 22, 2003). "Little Giant Yi Jianlian: I Want to Play NBA Basketball". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. ^ "Yi no Yao, but ABCD has Chinese flavor". July 9, 2002. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. ^ "2006 FIBA World Championships". Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ref3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
4. "Liaoning ensure division-leading place in CBA league". February 3, 2005. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. "Bayi Win Chinese Basketball Title over Guangdong". March 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. "USA-China Post Game Quotes (August 7, 2006)". USA Basketball. August 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. Rui, Zhau (November 3, 2006). "Yi can enter 2007 NBA draft". Retrieved 2007-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. Rui, Zhau (April 20, 2006). "China's Yi Jianlian not ready for NBA yet". Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. "DraftExpress: Mock Draft". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
10. "NBADraft.net". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
11. "InsideHoops.com – NBA Mock Draft". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
12. "Hoopshype – NBA Draft 2007". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
13. Chris, Sheridan (November 8, 2006). "Fegan will represent Yi for contract, marketing". Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
14. . April 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. Chad, Ford (May 21, 2007). "China rushing to match talent on court before 2008 Olympics". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
16. Forney, Matthew (October 17, 2004). "How Nike Figured Out China". Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Time magazine (August 24 2003)
• NBAdraft.net profile
• DraftExpress.com profile
• Yi Jianlian's Age, NBA Employment, and Immigration Law
• The Yi Movement

• 1987 births
• Living people
• Cantonese people
• Chinese basketball players
• Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics