Yi Jianlian to enter the draft

[Fresh8]

He got exposure when he went to the States like 2 years ago? I think there was some magazine (something tells me it was Time; i doubt it tho) that did an article on him labelling him as the next Yao. He wasn't allowed to enter the draft because of the Chinese government and also cause he felt he wasn't ready I believe. And he's been on mock drafts for 2007... Does that answer your queries?

[Jing]

Ive never heard of him, what happend to that dude Xue Xueyang or whoever?

Every year some Chinese 7 footer gets "hyped" up but most of them can barely play basketball or end up in the military. Considering he wasnt even on any sort of mock drafts for the past 3-4 years I'd say he has no real chance of making it to the NBA, maybe a summer league roster is the closest thing he'll get to playing NBA-level ball but even thats a bit of a really outside looking in kinda shot.

well you are not exactly right about that. in 2003 Yi Jian Lian was ranked as the top pick on nbadraft.net for the year 2003 before China implemented the 22 year old age rule. China waived that rule for him, probably hoping to develope enough so that he can help China push to a medal in 2008

he wasn't on any of the past drafts boards cause of that age limit.

as for xue, he is still being held by his chinese club team, there doesnt seem to be any chance that he'll be allowed to the states.

[H Rock]

He got exposure when he went to the States like 2 years ago? I think there was some magazine (something tells me it was Time; i doubt it tho)

It was the Times.

And if you want to see Yi in action, look at this. It's the CBA finals. Yi is number 9 on the blue team (Guangdong Tigers).

[J@3]

Jing is right, he was really high up on most mock drafts for a long time.

[Stevesanity]

Jing is right, he was really high up on most mock drafts for a long time.

Was it nbadraft.net or draftcity(now known as draftexpress)?

[J@3]

NBAdraft.net, I'm fairly sure Draft City had him at around #7 before he completely dropped off.

[Stevesanity]

NBAdraft.net, I'm fairly sure Draft City had him at around #7 before he completely dropped off.

Yeah maybe I missed him if he was their for a short time, I didnt check on draft.net long ago and their was some other site which I cant remember right now although I think its not updated anymore. All I remember about 2-3 years back was the talk around Yao Ming and before that Wang ZhiZhi(boy didnt he turn out to be totally crap) but never this dude.

[J@3]

Yeah this guy got alot of hype for a while, on Fast Break Basketball roster updates he was averaging like 27/11 lol people just got caught up in this buzz that he was an Asian KG. Not exactly gone to plan since.

[Cloudy]

And where's Wang Zhizhi and Yuta Tabuse?

Wang went back to China last week, playing in the CBA again. He apologized to the nation for not playing for national team and etc etc... He's stupid.

[Jing]

lol. at least the china team got another big men who can do something in asia and stuff.

yuta. isnt he in like the nbdl

[beau_boy04]

When I read he was extremely athletic I thought he was like kinda Michael Jordan athletism but then I saw he's a 7 footer and I was like OK

[Jing]

yeah i think comparing his jumping to mj.. a bit far, but he has garnett likeiness.

[Fresh8]

But he's too too weak! And with Wang... will the Govt. allow him onto the national team.. especially if Yao can't play at Worlds?

[Fenix]

The teenage forward from the domestic league defending champions Guangdong has been listed on two United States websites as one of the prospects for this year's draft.

However, the young star says he is not eligible for the NBA draft because he feels he is still too young for the NBA.

Yi Jianlian compares his situation with that of Yao Ming, China's top basketball star, saying he is still lack of international experience.

He adds that a place on the Chinese national team is his prime target right now.

Meanwhile, the Guangdong club and the Chinese Basketball Association have reached an understanding that they would support Yi entering the NBA draft on the condition that his future NBA team must ensure his playing time.

Website NBADraft has predicted that Yi will likely be picked up by the New Jersey Nets, while the Draftexpress says he would be chosen by the Charlotte Hornets.

The NBA draft will take place at the end of June.

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/301/2006/04/19/165@78994.htm

[J@3]

The Charlotte Hornets, well, that'd leave him up shit creek without a paddle wouldn't it.

[Axel]

I hate the globalization of the game. I can't pronounce the names, and they are so big it looks ridiculous on the back of jerseys.

[arrell]

Come on, what's with all of the Chinese players? We have 100 players like this in Lithuania. It's just that for some reason the Chinese players get ATTENTION. That's just a stupid thing. Andriuskevicius is one of the worst centers (If you look to the Lithuanian centers), but just because of a little commercialism he got drafted and now worms the Cavs bench. We have guys who could be contenders for rookie of the year, and just because they don't get ATTENTION, they don't get drafted, even though they're better.Well, I can only hope that will change after this years "Basketball without borders" in Lithuania.

Well, maybe because decent Asian basketballers are more rare than dodos. Plus, should another Asian play in the NBA, the NBA will receive a few million Asian fans to accompany the Yao Ming fans (that is, the population of China).

[Jing]

there's no clear indication, but it seems that yi jianlian might be waiting another year... though chinese national team point guard and also beijing aoshen guard SUN YUE, who played in the aba this past season has declared for the draft.

[BOSS]

Yi Jianlian Officially Out of 2006 NBA Draft

There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Yi Jianlian, (China's top talent since Yao Ming) would enter the 2006 NBA draft after he was cleared to enter by the CBA and his team (as first reported by NBADraft.net).

First reports came out of China that Yi would not enter the draft. Then reports surfaced that Yi's American agent Bill Duffy was pushing to get him into the draft, and there was still a good chance that he would enter.

On Tuesday, Yi held a press conference in China announcing that he will not enter this year's NBA draft, instead choosing to remain with his Guongdong Tigers team, and focused on the Chinese National team for at least another season.

The reason he gave for staying out of the draft was that he felt that he was not yet ready to compete on the NBA level, and therefore another year of getting stronger and developing his skills would benefit his future as a player.

Yi is projected as a first round pick for next year's NBA draft if he chooses to enter.

Special thanks to Shawn Cheng of HoopChina.com for breaking this story.

[killer_cr0ss0ver]

he need to put up more muscles and have good upper body to prepare for physical type of game in nba.

[Jing]

http://www.nbadraft.net/draftbuzz056.asp

[The_Flying_Tomato]

ugh another ugly player. that makes ugly asians over 7'0 that i know of 2 for 2. not to be racist or anything.

[BOSS]

ugh another ugly player. that makes ugly asians over 7'0 that i know of 2 for 2. not to be racist or anything.

alright ?
they gotta be hot to play in the nba now or what ?

[Blasphemy]

I hope the Rockets get him.

Him and Yao will kill!

[H Rock]

ugh another ugly player. that makes ugly asians over 7'0 that i know of 2 for 2. not to be racist or anything.

There's actually three over 7-foot Asians in the NBA.

PS- Oh yah, where did you hear the news that the NBA is now a beauty pageant? No wonder you haven't entered the NBA.