It’s only been a couple months, yet it seems like an eternity since Yi Jianlian was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth pick in June’s NBA Draft. All the back and forth, posturing and news surrounding his refusal to play for Milwaukee has made those two months seem longer than it actually has been.
However, it all came to an end in Hong Kong Wednesday, when Yi signed a rookie contract with the Bucks. Needless to say, reps on both sides were all smiles. He is expected to be in NBA training camp in the beginning of October.
Yi Jianlian is being constantly compared to his countryman Yao Ming because of his size and looks. But as a player, Yi is very different from Yao Ming; Jianlian is a lot more mobile and athletic. He has the aggressiveness that many wished Yao had. On the other hand, he is a lot less refined in regards to overall skill. I tend to liken Yi to a poor-man’s Amare Stoudemire during his first year – raw, turnover-prone, but with tons of athletic potential. With that said, Yi’s workouts with several NBA teams this May raised his stock significantly as he easily outshone other college standouts.
During the standoff, Yi participated in the NBA Summer League with Team China. And though he averaged a respectable 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, Yi also shot 25% (13- 51) from the floor, turned over the ball 4.6 a game, and averaged seven fouls per game. Yi did score 23 points in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies and added 20 in a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which he hit the game winning shot.
So with his contract situation behind him now, it’s time for Yi Jianlian to move on. He must now transition to a vastly-superior league and adapt to a new culture, though several reports has said that the latter shouldn’t be an issue. His refusal, albeit through his representatives, did nothing but to anger and alienate Milwaukee Bucks fans as well as magnify every eventual mistake he makes during his rookie campaign. So he has to prove to his fans and non-fans that his potential was worth the headache. Only time will tell.
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