Power forward Yi Jianlian of China plays for the New Jersey Nets in the National Basketball Association. Together with Yao Ming of Houston Rockets, the duo is often called the Great Wall of China.
Yi Jianlian was born in Heshan, China, on October 27, 1987. In December of 2008. Jianlian is the son of two former basketball players 6-5 Yi Jingliu (father) and 5-8 Mai Meiling. He was discovered in 1999 on a playground in Shenzhen and he was so tall at grade school since he stood 6-4. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/yi_jianlian/bio.htmlYi's date of birth was questioned after a document listing his date of birth as October 27, 1984 was published by a Chinese magazine. This disputed the birth date of October 27, 1987, that was listed in the NBA. Yi denied the allegation, now the controversy no longer bothers him.FanHouse: Evidence Suggests Yi Jianlian is 24, Not 21
While playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, he set a career record for the most dunks in the league. He led the Guandong to the CBA Finals but only to lose to Bayi in five games in the 2006–2007 season.NBA.com: Yi Jianlian Bio
His homeland China is Asia's kingpin in basketball thanks to the giants like him and Yao Ming. The 7 flat Yi is a mainstay of the Chinese basketball quintet, and he saw action in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece and in the 2006 FIBA World Championships. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/yi_jianlian/bio.html
In 2007, Yi was selected sixth by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draftBasketball-Reference.com: Yi Jianlian and inked a multi-year contract with the franchiseNBA.com: Bucks sign Yi Jianlian to a multi-year contract
After one season, however, he and Bobby Simmons was traded to the New Jersey Nets for prolific scorer Richard Jefferson.
On his first season with his new team Nets, Yi appeared on 66 games and averaged 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 25 minutes per game. He also started forty-nine games for the club.NBA.com: Yi Jianlian Career Stats
Yi Jianlian 2009-2010 NBA Season
Yi Jianlian played his rookie year with the Milwaukee Bucks and then went on to play for the New Jersey Nets 2008 to present. In the 2009–2010 NBA Regular season He showed vast improvement on his game as he averaged 12 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.9 assist, 0.7 steal and 1.48 shot block in 52 games. He missed playing 30 games because of various injuries including his broken pinkie last January 2010. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/yi_jianlian/career_stats.html
Yi Jianlian Highlight Video
A work in progress, the 7-0 giant from China is showing improvements on his game. He can play post-up and the same time can shoot from the outside. Jianlian is an offensive threat inside and out. He has also decent defensive skills and with more time to jell and improve with his Nets team he will soon be a force to reckon with in the league.
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Fast Facts
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Born
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Birthplace
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Height
7-0
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Weight
238 lbs
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Position
Power forward
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Draft year
2007, sixth overall
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Drafted by
