Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian grew up in a family that did not want him to join a sports school. These institutions were designed for children expected to become professional athletes. His parents refused his enrollment initially. A basketball coach saw Yi playing street basketball and persuaded his family to allow him to train professionally. This decision changed the trajectory of his life.
Adidas invited him to attend the company's ABCD Camp in New Jersey in 2002. He competed against all-American high school players there. Hoping to sign Yi to an endorsement deal, the company brought him to this event. His performance at these camps caught the attention of scouts across China.
In 2004, Yi was listed as being born in 1984 during the Four Nation Tournament. This differed from the previously claimed year of 1987. Chinese officials said 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. Both Yi and Battier refuted the story.
A Chinese reporter discovered a high school enrollment form from 1997 that listed Yi as being born on the 27th of October 1984. In 2007 and 2008, his date of birth faced further scrutiny. Former NBA player Wang Zhizhi had been listed as being born in both 1977 and 1979. A senior Chinese official admitted that past youth squads had included players above the permitted age.
On the 28th of June 2007, Yi was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Dan Fegan warned the Milwaukee Bucks not to pick Yi. He did not allow 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.
Yi declined to sign with Milwaukee for several months but agreed to a contract in August 2007. On the 26th of June 2008, Yi was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks along with Bobby Simmons to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Richard Jefferson. On the 29th of June 2010, Yi was traded to the Washington Wizards along with $3 million in cash considerations for Quinton Ross. On the 6th of January 2012, Yi signed with the Dallas Mavericks to a one-year contract after starting the season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers.
After returning to China in 2002, Yi signed a professional contract with Chinese Basketball Association side Guangdong Southern Tigers. He won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season. In each of his next three seasons, Yi led Guangdong to the CBA championship. He was awarded the CBA Finals Most Valuable Player honor in 2006.
On the 15th of August 2020, Yi helped the Guangdong Southern Tigers win their 10th CBA championship after a 123, 115 win in game 3 of the CBA Finals over the Liaoning Flying Leopards. Yi re-joined the Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2012, 13 CBA season and went on to win a fourth championship that season. His final averages for the 2019, 20 season were 22.4 points per game before he suffered an injury.
Yi's first major international experience came at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship where 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 six points and six rebounds per game. He played for the Chinese national team in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics and the 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships.
In China's first two group stage matches at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Yi scored nine and four points respectively. In a win against Germany, Yi recorded 9 points and 11 rebounds. He hit the crucial shot with 28 seconds left to help China advance to the quarter-finals. During the 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.
On the 2nd of April 2008, it was announced that Yi would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. One of Milwaukee's assistant coaches, Brian James, later said that the injuries he had bothered him more than people realized. On the 15th of August 2020, Yi suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the game against Liaoning Flying Leopards. He was expected to miss a major part of 2020, 21 CBA season due to rehabilitation.
Yi sprained his medial collateral ligament on the 4th of November 2009, had a laceration on his upper lip on the 8th of December 2009, and sprained his left ankle on the 8th of March 2010. These recurring physical issues hampered his career significantly over time.
The 2022, 23 CBA season was Yi's final basketball season where he made the decision to retire on the 30th of August 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.
In October 2024, Yi became 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. Yi has not made any public response to the accusations.
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Common questions
When was Yi Jianlian born and what controversy surrounded his age?
Yi Jianlian was listed as being born on the 27th of October 1984 during a 1997 high school enrollment form, though he claimed to be born in 1987. Chinese officials stated that listing him as born in 1984 during the Four Nation Tournament in 2004 was likely a typographical error.
Which team drafted Yi Jianlian sixth overall in the 2007 NBA draft?
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Yi Jianlian with the sixth overall pick on the 28th of June 2007. Dan Fegan warned the Milwaukee Bucks not to select Yi because the city did not have a large Asian-American community.
How many CBA championships has Yi Jianlian won with Guangdong Southern Tigers?
Yi Jianlian helped the Guangdong Southern Tigers win their 10th CBA championship on the 15th of August 2020 after defeating the Liaoning Flying Leopards. He also won a fourth championship with the team during the 2012, 13 CBA season.
What major injury ended Yi Jianlian's professional basketball career in 2023?
Yi Jianlian retired from professional basketball on the 30th of August 2023 following his final 2022, 23 CBA season. His career was significantly hampered by recurring physical issues including a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered on the 15th of August 2020.
Did Yi Jianlian participate in multiple Olympic Games for China?
Yi Jianlian made his debut with the Chinese national basketball team during the 2004 Summer Olympics and played in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. He also competed in the 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships representing China.