Yi Jianlian

Synopsis

Yi Jianlian, 29, is a Chinese Power forward-center basketball player who is playing for Guangdong Southern Tigers. Yi also played in the NBA for teams like Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, and New Jersey Nets.

Yi Jianlian also played for the Chinese national team at the Olympic (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and as well as 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships.

Early life and Education

Yi Jianlian was born on October 27, 1987, in Heshan, Guangdong, China. He belongs to Chinese nationality. Ethnicity wise, he is an Asian. He is the son of Mai Meiling and Yi Jingliu. Both of his parents are former handball players. Both of his parents were very tall. His father stood at the height of 1.93 meters and his mother of 1.73 meters.

Though the people in China are generally short he already stood 1.93 meters tall while he was studying at primary level.

At the beginning, Yi Jianlian’s parents prevented him from attending a sports school. However, the basketball coach overlooked his potential and persuaded Yi’s parents to let him take part in sports.

Professional career

Later in 2002, Yi Jianlian signed a contract with Chinese Basketball Association. In 2011 where most of the team members signed a contract with Chinese clubs, he still went for NBA lockout. At first, he had some complications in 2006 regarding his international debut as the Chinese government would not allow any players bellow 22 to join the international team but in 2007 Guangdong Southern Tigers finally drafted him.

Yi Jianlian was in starting lineup in 2007 to 2008 season as replacement of Charlie Villanueva. After that, the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Richard Jefferson traded him in New Jersey Nets. The team president Rod Thorn and team Chief Brett Yormark also appreciated him.

Yi Jianlian earned 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on average in his first 37 games with New Jersey. He improved his record from the previous season as he shot 39% from behind the three-point line.

Dallas Mavericks signed Yi Jianlian for one year at the beginning of 2012. He again signed $8 million deal with Los Angeles Lakers on August 22, 2016. At this time, Lakers head coach Luke Walton announced Yi as the best-shooting player during the preseason. Nevertheless, he was not given a chance to play much for Lakers.

Yi Jianlian earned 18.9 points and 11.5 rebounds on average in his first international game 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

Controversy

In 2004, during the Four Nations Tournament Yi was said to be born in 1984. However, the Chinese government disagreed the fact that he was born three years before and said that it was a typographical mistake. Yi is not the only one going through this problem as former NBA player Wang Zhizhi was recorded to be born in both 1977 and 1979.

In the year 2007 and 2008, Yi again got into an age-related controversy after a Chinese reporter found that he went to high school in 1997.

Personal life and Affair

Yi Jianlian is a married person. He has been married to his girlfriend Jing Yi Ling who won the 2008 seventh session of the Southern Silk Road Model Contest.

Yi and his wife are blessed with two sons. They welcomed their first child a boy, Gary Yi in Los Angeles, the United State of America in 2014. Their son was also very similar to Yao Ming’s daughter Yao Qinlei.

They had their second son in June 2014. The couple both from Guangdong met at a friend's party some years ago and began their relationship.

Yi is also fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese, which is his native tongue. In 2008, he also marked his name as a fourth richest on Forbes China Celebrity 100. Apart from his professional career, he is also the kindhearted person who has donated 100,000 yuan for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Net worth and Body Measurement

Yi’s salary amount is around 2.4 million. He has an athletic body and he looks very tall with a height of 6 feet 11 inches. His weight 110.22295 kg also looks perfect with his height.