Yi Jianlian Comes Back to Compete for CBA Championship

China’s basketball star Yi Jianlian has signed a one-year contract with Guangdong Hongyuan of the China Basketball Association (CBA) for the coming season, Sina.com.cn reports.

Back from the United States over the weekend, Yi told reporters that he would put on Hongyuan’s Jersey for the coming season to help his team win an 8th CBA Championship.

Liu Hongjiang, the general manager of Guangdong Hongyuan, said Yi will not be in the “always ready” position like last season. Yi will play the entire season this time, and if possible, he may participate in the 2013 National Games held in Liaoning for Guangdong Province.

Yi went back to Guangdong last season due to the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) lockout in 2011. Hitting double stats of 16.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in three games for Hongyuan, Yi injured his right knee during a regular game against the Beijing Ducks.

Once healed, the NBA also ended its lockout, getting Yi a contract with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.

Yi played 30 games for the Mavericks in the 2011-2012 NBA season, averaging 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds every seven minutes of play time.

In the off-season period, European basketball showed interest in Yi, but he eventually went back to Guangdong.

Yi was the 6th draft pick, picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006’s NBA draft. With career stats of 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds, he has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks.

via Yi Comes Back to Compete for CBA Championship.