NBA / Dec 19, 2008 / 2:10 pm
Breaking News: Yi Jianlian Lied About Age
On the first line, it clearly shows his birthdate to be 1984.10.27According to Interbasket, recent evidence suggests that Yi Jianlian, is actually three years older than his official NBA profile states. A document showing Yi in his younger days (pictured left), displays his birth date as October 27, 1984, not October 27, 1987, making him 24 years old opposed to only 21.
This comes just a week after a crackdown on Chinese “age shaving” found 36 players in China’s professional basketball league were older than they originally stated.
Source: Interbasket
December 19th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
weezy f says:
UGGGLLLYYY!! why do chinese players lie about their age?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Mickael says:
WOW…good job China
December 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
... says:
So what’s gonna happen then?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Three Stacks says:
The same reason they lie about the quality of their merchandise: they want you to think they’ll last longer than they actually will.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
DO says:
nothing’s gonna happen, except they’ll probably stop making excuses for this guy. instead of saying, “he’s only 21, he’ll develop” they’ll say “he sucks for 24″
December 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Is it just me or does Yi look like a girl in that photo?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
baron von faulk says:
oh for crying out loud, that is not breaking news, we knew that shit coming in !!!
December 19th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
JCARR says:
hahaha damn chinos
December 19th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Three Stacks says:
@ BOB, I dunno what kinda girls live in your neighborhood, but no.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Ross says:
But why?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Taj says:
Now lets see what these guys can find on Dikembe?? How old is that mofo!? LOL!
December 19th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
KillaKram says:
Everyone in China who plays basketball knows hes 24…but this wont change a thing because NBA personal knew this too
December 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
matthew says:
I’d like to see them go after the Olympians next. Some of those girls were so obviously younger than claimed.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
mules says:
…in related news, Greg Oden is actually 53 years old.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Sccob says:
Lol @ mules…
December 19th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
John says:
Yao is 39
December 19th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Austin Burton says:
@matthew — They already investigated and found the Chinese female gymnasts to be of legal age. (They weren’t younger than 16 or whatever the limit was.)
December 19th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
qUeSt?? says:
Now i know why Yao’s body keeps breaking down, hes at least 50
December 19th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Jeronimo says:
@ comments #1 and #10: By lying about their age, they can play in age-limited tournaments. Obviously, this is more the team’s fault than the players’.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
s.bucketz says:
this is like that kid that was pounding cerveza and tequila shots in between innings during the lil league world series
December 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Mark says:
So on a tangent, did anybody find out what age those chinese gymnastics girls were in the olympics? I remember them having some undercover thing, but did they end up (forcefully) relinquishing the medals?
December 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
ab_40 says:
I know they lie about their age… a lot of players from the african continent as well. but this picture looks photoshopped… really bad… the birth certificate I don’t know if that is real but the picture is deff. photoshopped
December 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Diego says:
Three Stacks nailed it in post 4.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Big V says:
I dont understand the point here. If you’re 24, you’re 24. There’s no eligibility restrictions or anything….
December 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
SayItAintSo says:
You can’t drink in China if you’re over the age of 23 so Yi had to get a fake ID and say he was 21. I think it’s forgivable since it’s not too dissimilar from what we do here in America.
@AB I think the Chinese internal investigation said they were of legit age but the Olympic Committee said otherwise, right? Weren’t they forced to give up their medals? Also, drive/walk safe if you’re in the 206. CRAZY AZZ weather.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
dapro says:
To the above post, it Yi does look a little lady like in the pic
Maybe it’s the bang he’s rocking
December 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
rodnets says:
not only he lied about his age, look at a pic HE IS A WOMAN…that explains her softness!
Peace
December 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Michorizo says:
So does this mean he can stop shaving his pubic hair?
December 19th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Austin Burton says:
@SayItAintSo — TERRIBLE weather. And yeah, I think the IOC did clear the Chinese gymnasts and they can keep their medals. At least that’s what I remember reading a few weeks ago.
As far as why anyone would lie about age: Suppose I showed you last night’s Blazers/Suns film and said, “See that guy #52, Oden? He’s only 18.” Doesn’t that make him WAY more attractive as a prospect than if I told you he was 23? You see it with baseball players in Latin American countries a lot.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Andy says:
nothing surprising
Ersan Iloysa lied also
December 19th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Mikey F Baby says:
Anybody who says the Chinese gymnasts were all 16 and older is lying through their teeth, or residents of Chinatown USA. If the games weren’t played in China they’d never have gotten away with that shit. and Nastia Luikin is hot.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Logan says:
Go figure… First the olympics and 10 year old chinese gymnists and now this… They should make some rule that if you lie about your age we can shoot you. Then I guarantee they wouldn’t! LOL!!!!!
December 19th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
rodnets says:
in soccer african countries go to sub-17 world champs with people who look like Oden
December 19th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Ian says:
im dominican so im used to seein this no biggie
December 20th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Rico says:
The IOC referred the Chinese gymnast thing to the gymnastics controlling body (forget the name). Both have said the documents given to them by the Chinese were adequate, and neither have the interest or incentive to push it further (don’t want to devalue the Olympics or embarrass the host nation). There is GREAT reason to believe that, apparently like Yi, those girls’ ages were lied about and the papers were manipulated by the Chinese government.
December 20th, 2008 at 1:22 am
pmso says:
Just like Barry Bonds said he didn’t take no drugs. Given the right incentive, everybody lies. Good thing the chinese are doing something about it.
December 20th, 2008 at 3:04 am
the truth says:
Not to be racist, but the Chinese lie their asses off not only in sports, but in business as well. Ever heard of the lead content in toys? The poisoned milk products? They will do anything for a profit. So much for communism.
I love Chinese food, Chinese culture, and their women are foine, but this is just damn wrong.
December 20th, 2008 at 4:06 am
ed says:
In Dikembe’s case I can understand. It’s because they didn’t keep records very well in the Congo. He’s probably a couple years (atleast) younger than “official” documents. It happens in a lot of third world countries. But in Yi’s case this is blatant lying. Maybe he didn’t want to say anything since he’s representing China and they falsified his age for him. Or maybe he’s in on it. Even when the questions were asked about him at draft time, everybody denied it just like they did in the Olympics this past summer. Even when they could see he looked older than what they were claiming. I guess it’s not a big deal for the Chinese govt to modify birthdates on official documents for their athletes. But it’s wrong.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:50 am
skywarp says:
chinese really look young thats why they can gey away with it.. as for the olympics there is a real chance that those age were legit cuz im chinese im 22 but oden will look like my grandfaher if we where ever side by side
December 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hill Billy says:
BREAKING NEWS: Yi is actually a 14 year old Japanese girl.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Fleks says:
Olds news is so exciting!
December 20th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
ScoGo says:
Why does Li look just like Ann Curry from the Today show? That’s quality role playing. Bet all ‘em Nets fans would like to see him do an impersonation of KG for a couple of seasons.
December 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
disneyland discounts says:
this is sad that their athletes have to lie about their age.
December 20th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
elcherino says:
Who is dat soul fly fine looking asian chik at the top of da page and wats her numba. I need me some asian
December 21st, 2008 at 7:55 am
Mind Ur Business says:
People people enough of your racist comments… Why must you people make a fuss over what age he is, what truly matters if he is capable of playing or not. Don’t go bitching about how old is he, I know a bunch of people with fake id and etc…. so what’s the big deal? Cuz he famous? Get over it@
December 21st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Soda says:
21 or 24 he’s still soft…
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Someone needs to step up and uncover the Oden scandal. This would be the biggest scandal in sports history and also the funniest.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Dean says:
Shit, that’s nothing. Lebron is around 28! He’s been heard saying, one day I need to tell everyone my real age. How come that never comes up? Will be interesting to see how fast he drops off; and with injuries.
December 25th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
jeff says:
December 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Is it just me or does Yi look like a girl in that photo?
LOL, i think he kinda does.
December 25th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
billybob says:
funny, people act like lying about age is something that NEVER happens in the US. Someone say AAU????????????
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:44 am
Bangbang says:
OMG!!!!he is a girl!!!c’mon!!get over it, Yi is great, so wats the big deal? 24 is young!!!Yes, maybe for Nets, it is some disvantages on the age, but anyway, they play better with Yi (without Yi, see wat happen these last few games?L-O-S-T all the time)….Oden is more than 60 I think…anywaym best wishes for Oden who was earlier overrated.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:45 am
Bangbang says:
by the, the photo looks like Michael Jackson a bit hahaha….its kinda pretty new for old photo.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Paul Andre says:
Thank you very much,your site is perfect
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