Yi Jianlian: 10 Things to Know about the Chinese Basketball Player's Career

Basketball has never been the key sport in China. It doesn’t mean there are no talented basketball players in the country. With that said, Yi Jianlian is widely recognized as a basketball legend who has built a great career in top basketball leagues. His stable performance helped him become a common choice in online betting. His legacy will always be a great source of inspiration for future generations. As a basketball fan, you may want to know 10 things about Yi Jianlian.

1. He Participated in the “Chinese Super Bowl”

In the 2007 NBA draft, Yi Jianlian was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick. This automatically drew worldwide attention. He played against Yao Ming, representing the Houston Rockets. No wonder the game was called “The Chinese Super Bowl”. Over 150-250 million viewers from China watched the game, which exceeded the U.S. audience for the Super Bowl. The Milwaukee Bucks won the game, with Yi Jianlian dropping 19 points.

2. He Became a Promising Star in the NBA

Yi Jianlian became a professional basketball player in 1999. His breakthrough happened with the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first game, he scored 16 points. He also scored over 1,000 points in the following games. His knee injury made him sit on the bench for the rest of the season. As a result, he didn’t manage to demonstrate his full potential in the NBA.

3. He Built Muscles during His Time in the NBA

Yi Jianlian wasn’t ready for the pro sports. He was very thin at the beginning of his NBA career. Basketball requires physical contact during the games, so players need to have enough muscle to compete. With the NBA training plan, Yi Jianlian helped him gain weight and build muscle mass. He eventually became a more efficient player with quickly improved statistics.

4. He Played for Top NBA Teams

Yi Jianlian played for several teams in the U.S. basketball league. He started his foreign career with the Milwaukee Bucks. The first season turned out to be quite stressful, but Yi managed to earn a few important points for the team. But his main success came during his time with the New Jersey Nets. He managed to score 12 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In 2016, Yi Jianlian briefly joined the Lakers. He had to leave the club due to his disagreement with his future role in the team's play.

5. He Became a Legend in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)

In 2012, Yi Jianlian continued his career in the Chinese Championship. With the Guangdong Southern Tigers, he became the CBA champion several times. He also became the only player to make 10,000 points and 5,000 rebounds at the same time. Yi Jianlian ended his career with 12,781 points and 6,195 rebounds. It will be hard for the next generation to break their national record.

6. He Gets Inspiration from Kobe Bryant

Yi Jianlian took inspiration from Kobe Bryant, one of the top basketball players in the NBA. His passion for the game gained universal acclaim. Yi Jianlian admired his basketball skills and physical strength. Both players expressed their strong desire to meet each other on the playfield one day. However, their dream never came true. Kobe Bryant claimed that Yi Jianlian didn’t have the opportunity to show his full potential.

7. He Is a Captain of the National Team at the Olympics

Yi Jianlian has never missed the Olympic Games since his professional debut. After Yao Ming’s retirement, he became the captain of the national basketball team. Yi Jianlian was praised for his leadership talent and competitive streak. Even though the national team didn’t reach the finals, they demonstrated a solid performance. Chinese fans were happy to see their team playing strongly against top basketball countries. Yi Jianlian carried his country’s flag during the Opening Ceremony in London 2012. He made 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game at Rio 2016.

8. He Announced Retirement Unexpectedly

Yi Jianlian demonstrated stable performance in the domestic league, so no one expected his retirement. The player made a significant announcement in 2023. He decided to end his professional basketball career at the age of 35. His decision wasn’t caused by medical or any other problems. Yi Jianlian just felt that he had spent enough time in professional sports. His retirement was the trending topic on Weibo, making over 330 million views. Basketball fans urged him on social media with multiple requests to change his mind. But they eventually accepted his decision and made multiple tributes to his career.

9. He Remains a Role Model for the Next Generation

Despite the ups and downs of his professional career, Yi Jianlian remains a role model for young athletes. His discipline and gaming ethics have inspired many basketball players. Yi has often spoken about the importance of mental and physical growth. During his time in the NBA, he learned to work hard to achieve the best results on the playfield. Even after retirement, Yi Jianlian maintains a strong impact on the national sports. He mentors young players, attends grassroots events, and uses his status to promote the sport's development in China.

10. He Became One of China's Greatest Basketball Players

In 2019, Yi Jianlian became the first CBA player to make 5,000 rebounds. This helped him build his image as the GOAT. With over 20 years of professional basketball, his resume includes 14 All-Star selections. He also gained the second largest recognition among Chinese players.