Brooklyn Nets Olympics: History of Olympians
By Sandy Mui
Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian was acquired by the Nets in a trade that sent Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks. Nets team president Rod Thorn had high hopes for Yi, stating, “we feel that Yi can be a very special player.” Yi’s two best seasons were with the Nets, during which he averaged 10.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. Despite his impressive numbers with the Nets, his short stint in New Jersey was plagued by injuries, and he was eventually traded to the Washington Wizards.
Yi currently plays for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association and is a three-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012). He is again representing China in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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