Chinese basketball player Yi Jianlian finally signed a
multi-year contract with Milwaukee Bucks in Hong Kong Wednesday to
begin his NBA career.
Yi thus becomes the fourth Chinese basketball player to ply his
trade in the NBA after Menk Bater, Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming.
"We are very excited to associate ourselves with Alian (nickname
for Yi Jianlian). He is an extraordinary person and a great
basketball player," said Herb Kohl, owner of the Bucks, at a press
conference after the contract signing. "Alian will be a great
addition to the NBA and of course to the Bucks."
China's NBA draft pick Yi
Jianlian (R) and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl meet the press
during a conference to announce Yi's signing with the NBA franchise
in Hong Kong August 29, 2007. Yi signed a three-year deal after a
two-month stalemate with the Bucks as he refused to embrace the
team after the Draft late in June. (Photo: Xinhua)
At the press conference, Yi said he was glad to join the Bucks
and would do his best to meet new challenges ahead. "To play in NBA
is my goal," he said.
Yi is expected to attend the Bucks' training camp from October 1
at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI, said Larry Harris,
general manager of the Bucks, pledging that the Bucks will do its
most to make Yi the best basketball player.
Asked whether the contract would compensate Yi’s former club,
Guangdong Hongyuan, Harris said that the contract was a standard
NBA one which did not address the issue of compensation.
Yi played professionally for the Guangdong Hongyuan of the
Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) from the 2002-03 season, when
he was awarded Rookie of the Year honors. He has competed in the
last five CBA Finals and won titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006, earning
the Finals' Most Valuable Player award in 2006.
He played for the Chinese national team at the 2004 Olympics in
Athens and the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.
China's NBA draft pick Yi
Jianlian (L) meets the press during a conference to announce his
signing with the NBA franchise in Hong Kong August 29, 2007.
(Photo: Xinhua)
China's NBA draft pick Yi
Jianlian reacts during a press conference to announce his signing
with the NBA franchise in Hong Kong August 29, 2007.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)
