Sports / NBA Draft 2007
NBA about to get fourth Chinese player in 7-foot Yi Jianlian
(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-28 14:18
BEIJING _ They love Yao. Now comes Yi.
That's Yi Jianlian, the 7-foot (2.13-meter) power forward who will be
picked high in Thursday's NBA draft.
He'll be the fourth Chinese to make the NBA, but will he have an impact
like the Houston Rockets Yao Ming? Or will his stay be short, matching
those of Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer who had modest NBA careers.
Yi (pronounced Ee) is a mystery in an NBA draft in which American college
players Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are expected to go 1-2. Speculation
has Yi going as high as No. 3, and most think he'll be picked in the top
10.
"Yi the X-factor in jackpot draft," read a recent headline in the
state-run China Daily newspaper.
If Yi makes it big, it will be even easier for the NBA to make deeper
inroads into China, where basketball is very popular. About 300 million
Chinese play the game, and NBA jerseys are a badge for teenage boys, just
as they are in the United States.
Nobody questions Yi's deft shooting touch from the wing, his ability to
run the floor and his soft hands and athletic body. Some compare him with
David Robinson or Pau Gasol.
But there are doubts.
_ Can he play defense, and is he strong enough to compete in the NBA?
_ And his age. The Chinese Basektball Association lists his birthday as
October 27, 1987 _ 19 at draft time. But some believe he's about three
years older. Teams might give a 19 year-old time to develop, but a
22-year-old is expected to be a finished product.
"He's definitely a great athlete who can be an NBA project for any team,"
said Xia Song, an NBA analyst on Beijing's BTV. "The draft is hard to
predict unless you are a Yao Ming or LeBron James or Michael Jordan."
Yi played on China's 2004 Olympic team and the 2006 World Championship
team. And his numbers were impressive this season in the Chinese
Basketball Association with the Guangdong Tigers _ averaging 25 points
and 12 rebounds.
"Every international player _ every Chinese player _ is going to need
time to adjust to the American culture, to the NBA, to the lockerroom,"
Xia added. "It is going to take time. But he's young, he's a very smart
kid and he will be able to handle it very well."
Bruce O'Neil, president of the United States Basketball Academy in
Eugene, Ore., has watched Yi for several years. The USBA has a long-term
consulting agreement with the CBA.
"I think he's the least known player in the draft," said O'Neil, who
returned this week to the United States from China.
"Some teams in the NBA have done their homework on him _ some haven't,"
O'Neil said. "For me he's a multidimensional talent _ a top-five pick for
sure. Of course they play different positions, but he's stronger than Yao
was at this point in his career."
For marketing purposes, Yi might prefer going to a city with a large
Chinese population. His English is basic, but better than Yao's when he
was picked five years ago. Yi has been in the United States for several
weeks adjusting and, unlike the three Chinese who played before him,
he'll be on hand to witness his selection.
1 2
Related Stories
� Yi looking forward to facing Yao on court
===========================================================================
� Yi Jianlian attends media availability
===========================================================================
� Yi Jianlian attends media availability
===========================================================================
� Yi Jianlian attends media availability
===========================================================================
� Yi Jianlian attends media availability
===========================================================================
� Yi Jianlian attends media availability
===========================================================================
Top Sports News
� China draws with S.Africa
� Bolivian boss attacks FIFA altitude decision
� Paralyzed gymnast on track of amazing recovery
� Alonso revved up to end Hamilton's run
� Argentina desperate to end 14-year title drought
Today's Top News
� 7 billion yuan misused, irregularities found
� Special bonds to tap forex reserves
� Global poll: Distrust in US on the rise
� Olympic torch 'must not be politicized'
� Lightning strikes kill 40 in east China
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Course, Chinese language, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment