Bounce, NBA / Jul 1, 2009 / 5:28 pm

Yi Jianlian vs. New York’s playground elite

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Yi Jianlian

Yi Jianlian

Yi Jianlian originally registered on the international basketball radar as the un-Yao Ming. Instead of a genetic breeding experiment who was more relatable to Iron Giant than Hoop Dreams, Yi was billed as China’s answer to Allen Iverson; a city kid who mostly honed his game on the playground before getting tied up in China’s notoriously rigid sports academies.

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that Yi can get busy in a streetball setting; especially when you throw in the fact that he’s 6-11, pretty athletic and has a soaking wet jumper. Still, the thought of him putting in work at one of New York City’s toughest summer tournaments seems unrealistic.

But there was Yi last night, more than holding his own at the Nike Pro City tourney, a spot Ron Artest has dominated in years past. Head over to BounceMag.com for the whole story.

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  • http://www.niketalk.yuku.com/forums/8 NTstateOFmind

    Yi? holding his own out there?!?
    …he mustve been playing against chairs

  • JBaller

    Oh Yi of little faith…

  • maddskizzle

    I believe this guy will be a solid pro. He gets a bad rap because he’s seen as a soft Asian player, worked out against chairs for the draft and had a Ricky Rubio moment when he got picked by the Bucks.

    He should get big minutes this year so i’m interested to see how he does. Put up some big stats right before his injury last year.

  • POPPI GEE Mobile

    Nickname playground Yi

  • L@ZyChuCk

    Yi is gonna shine PERIOD. Terrence Williams, the rookie the Nets just picked, is the same age as Yi, and Yi’s got 2 yrs under his belt.. Now that Vinsanity is not gonna hogg all em’ shots, Skip to Ma lu will mad hoop Yi up. Lopez + Yi would be a pretty young and intriguing Front Court tandem..

  • Kobeef

    I like Yi, and you have to give him credit for stepping into the dragon’s lair. There are a lot of NBA players who wouldn’t risk their rep by doing this.

    That said, you forgot to mention that according to the story he got outplayed by two dudes who have never sniffed the NBA.

  • Bron42 aka Had Springs Before Slamball

    @kobeef, well, thats cuz he has no rep to risk…if anything he woulda made a name by doin ok there. Its not like when vince when to the rucker and put up 50 (while gettin 50 put back on him)…yi is a no name to most streetball guys.

  • TBone

    Soooo you’re telling me I just clicked ‘read more’ to get this:

    “Still, the thought of him putting in work at one of New York City’s toughest summer tournaments seems unrealistic.

    But there was Yi last night, more than holding his own at the Nike Pro City tourney, a spot Ron Artest has dominated in years past. Head over to BounceMag.com for the whole story.”

    ????

    Seriously???

    Why does this keep happening?

  • lanyc111

    wrong to comment 5 , yi is closer to 30

  • BRUCE

    This is how he will dominate, against just above average street ballers. That ain’t nothing.

  • King

    Whos surprised? the kid gets burn in the NBA. i know a lot of people that play in these tourneys. They aren’t in the league for a reason. not saying some of them couldn’t give someone in the league buckets. But no one should be surprised someone from the league put in work in one of these games

  • sxm

    ditto that king

  • lemay33

    love reading comments from haters. Just cuz hes asian doesnt mean he cant here in nyc. How did God Shammgod do in the league by the way? i forgot

  • TheHatersPOV

    You’d be surprised. Some pros come there and stink it up. Troy Murhpy played there last year and was on the bench in crunch time and he wasn’t even in foul trouble. Marko Jaric also played last year and sucked.

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