Yi Jianlian, 19, still faces the hurdle of securing permission from the CBA to be exempted from the rule barring Chinese players from entering the NBA draft before their 22nd birthday. Nov. 3 - China's best young basketball prospect Yi Jianlian is a step closer to his NBA dream after the Guangdong Tigers cleared him to enter the 2007 draft, local media reported on Friday.
The 2.11-meter (6 ft 11.06 in) teenager was touted for the 2006 draft but blocked by Guangdong after the China Basketball Association (CBA) voiced concerns about players missing national games while warming benches for NBA teams.
"We did not let Yi join the 2006 draft because it was not the best timing for him," Guangdong general manager, Chen Haitao, told the China Daily.
"But now he is different and getting stronger mentally and physically. I think next year will be a big chance for him, so for us, it's time to let him go."
Yi, 19, still faces the hurdle of securing permission from the CBA to be exempted from the rule barring Chinese players from entering the NBA draft before their 22nd birthday.
CBA vice-president Hu Jiashi said the league supported players going overseas to play at the highest level as long as they had plenty of time on court.
"If he is going to be stuck on the bench, it would be better if he stayed at home," he said.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY
In contrast to Yao Ming's stellar career with the Houston Rockets, the NBA experiences of Menk Bateer and Wang Zhizhi -- the other two towers in China's "Great Wall" -- were marked by injury, regular trades and little game time.
After China failed to make the quarter-finals at the recent world championship in Japan, Yao Ming slammed China's domestic league and said more players should be sent overseas in preparation for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Yi, who averaged 20.5 points and 9.6 rebounds for champions Guangdong last season, said the draft would be a great opportunity and "also a test."
"I am not as excited as people expect," he told the paper. "For me, what I care about most now is winning another title for my club and also getting the gold medal at the Asian Games this year."
With Yao Ming excused from duty, Yi will be a key player in Team China's bid to regain the Asian Games title they held from 1986 to 2002 but lost to South Korea in Pusan four years ago.
The 2006 Asian Games start in Doha, Qatar on December 1.