Yi Jianlian: The saga continues

December 26th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

Again, I will not understate this: Yi Jianlian RAWKS HARDCORE. I have been rather dubious about his game thus far, because he seems too fragile, too thin to execute well in the NBA. But over the blogging break he put up a performance worthy of a considerable amount of praise. Some are even saying he might push Kevin Durant in the ROY race.

… it was that near-perfect performance that helped Yi pass Kevin Durant atop this week’s rankings.

Playing against a road-weary Bobcats team (it took them 11 hours to get from Charlotte to Milwaukee), Yi hit his first 12 shots and finished with a career-high 29 points in a 103-99 win on Saturday. Oh, and he pulled down 10 rebounds and had three steals on defense.

“He’s getting a feel of the game, getting more aggressive, dunking the basketball,” said teammate Michael Redd after the game. “He’s versatile. He’s like a fourth guard out there sometimes, the way he can shoot.”

So can Yi make up ground on Durant in the Rookie of the Year race? Maybe, maybe not.

Feb. 2 is the Yi vs. Yao rematch. This time it’s in Milwaukee. It appears Yi is thrusting the city of Milwaukee into the international spotlight. This man knows no bounds. Somewhere, Kevin Hunt is smiling.

Yi Jianlian: So hot right now in China

November 6th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

The story of Yi Jianlian is one that has yet to tire in my mind. The guy showed up at the Pirates of the Caribbean 3 premiere before he was even drafted; clearly, he knows the way to fame and success in the States starts and ends at Disney rides turned blockbuster movies staring Johnny Depp red carpet events. Then Milwaukee drafted him, he and his handlers weren’t sure if that was a great fit because there weren’t enough Chinese groupies to go around in the FINE CITY OF MILWAUKEE YOU POMPOUS EAST COAST REPORTER.

So, I’d say it’s a fair assumption that he’s not quite the darling in Bucks fans’ eyes. (Even though he dropped 16 on the Bulls the other night.) But let’s not forget: he’s still a hit in his native land. His first game televised in China — the aforementioned Bulls game — notched 100 million viewers.

And when Yao and Yi match up on Friday? Oh baby.

It [Yao vs. Yi] will be big back at home,” Yi said last week before the Bucks played the Magic in Orlando. “It will be fun. People will be watching.”

According to an NBA spokesperson, three national television stations will be in Houston to broadcast the game, along with an estimated 10-15 foreign print journalists, who already are in the country advancing the game. The NBA is hosting its own viewing party Friday night (which will be Saturday morning in China) in Beijing.

None of this should come as a surprise, considering how basketball interest has grown in the world’s most populous country. NBA weekly telecasts last season in China averaged 34 million viewers, spanning 51 TV partners through the country. Commissioner David Stern had made it a priority to grow basketball there.

This should have been Milwaukee’s strategy all along: if you can’t win over the hearts and minds of the American basketball public, move on to China. I salute you and yours, Yi Jianlian.

{Via the Bratwurst.}

Also: If anyone out there wants to watch, we were mentioned on the latest edition of Bleacher Bloggers for the Becks-Snoop post from last week.

Easy Yi will stay in Milwaukee after all

August 29th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

It’s been some time since we checked in with our good friend Yi Jianlian. But good news for us and (maybe) him, he finally signed with the Bucks.

“There has been a genuine excitement throughout our city and state, as well as internationally, following our selection of Yi in the NBA Draft,” said Senator Herb Kohl. “We all anticipate Yi’s arrival and welcome him and his family to Milwaukee. We look forward to a successful relationship for many years to come.”

“We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge and thank Mr. Chen for his assistance and support in the negotiating process,” Kohl added.

Our boy Matt Watson opines over at FanHouse today about what finally turned the tide for Yi. Was it Milwaukee throwing some cash to Jianlian’s old team? Did the Bucks finally convince him that Milwaukee was going to work out fine and they’d feature him prominatenly?

Come on, Matt. I know you better that. We both know the real answer. Why, Yi’s had time to scope out the Chinese women in Milwaukee and there are plenty of potential prospects out there. Also, I would assume Kevin Hunt gave him a call. If that didn’t persuade Yi, nothing can.