Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian (易建联) was selected with the 6th pick in the 2007 NBA draft by Milwaukee Bucks.
Yi Jianlian with David Stern, commissioner
of National Basketball Association (NBA)
The 19-year-old power forward from Guangdong, China, will become the 4th Chinese player in NBA after Wang Zhizhi, Menk Bateer and Houston Rockets star centre Yao Ming.
Yi is 6ft 11in (211cm); he previously played for Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and has played with the Chinese national team in the 2004 Olympic Games and 2006 FIBA World Championships.
Yi is surprised with Milwaukee’s decision to pick him, as he has previously expressed his desire to play in a city with a heavy Asian influence. Milwaukee with estimated 27,500 Asian Americans certainly doesn’t fit the bill.
The Chinese international however remains positive with his NBA future. “It’s a surprise to me… I’m not really familiar with the city as well, but I’m happy to be playing with the team and happy to play in the NBA.”
Greg Oden was the 1st overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers; Kevin Durant was the 2nd pick by Seattle SuperSonics.
Personally, I haven’t watched much of Yi’s play besides some footage; he is quite agile yet powerful with his height, and has a good shooting range. He got potential, that’s for sure.