Chinese Basketball Association Imports, 2010/11, Again
March 13th, 2011

Yi Jianlian, Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi. Not in picture: Sun Yue. Also not in picture: Benjamin Disraeli.

The Chinese Basketball Association and its compelling protagonists have a particular level of focus on this website, for reasons which, if you don’t already know them, are about to become extremely obvious.

Fringe NBA players like playing in China; the exposure isn’t huge and the standard isn’t great, but the CBA pays very well, and it is unashamed in copying the NBA model …

Posted by at 11:07 AM

Chinese Basketball Association Imports, 2010/11
December 15th, 2010

The first two rounds of games in the 2010/11 Chinese Basketball Association were played this week, giving us an opportunity to confirm once and for all who is actually playing there. With no major English language version of a Chinese Basketball Association website available – other than perhaps here – accurate information as to signings is hard to find. We are reliant upon snippets, leaks, the occasional accurate translation, and often the players themselves.

This is a pity because of …

Posted by at 9:17 PM

Mengke Bateer Is A Coconut Wielding Homicidal Badass
March 10th, 2010

Everyone remembers their first Mengke Bateer experience. Mine came in the 2000 Olympics. In a game against the USA in which Yao Ming beasted from three point range (true story), and in which Wang Zhizhi picked up four first half fouls, Mengke came in and hit some mid range jump shots, in that way that he does. It was kind of fun, if ultimately kind of forgettable.

Bateer went on to enjoy a few years in the NBA. He started …

Posted by at 2:04 PM

Chinese Basketball Association Statistics, 2010
March 7th, 2010

The Chinese Basketball Association and its compelling protagonists have a particular level of focus on this website, for the simple reason that they’re awesome. Any league that saw Olumide Oyedeji average nearly 20/20 can peak the interest of any of us.

Fringe NBA players like playing in China; the exposure isn’t huge and the standard isn’t great, but the CBA pays very well, and it is unashamed in copying the NBA model of basketball not much imitated around the globe. …

Posted by at 12:44 PM

Michael Sweetney signs in China
December 15th, 2009

As always, Chinese Basketball Association transactions are extremely hard to verify. There is no English language version of the CBA’s website, and crude Google translations aren’t really that helpful. Tryouts are often reported as signings, signings often aren’t reported at all, and lots of things go unreported. From these tatty shreds, we have to piece together the workings of an entire league. And it’s not easy.

However, one thing that’s perfectly clear is that former Bulls and Knicks big big …

Posted by at 12:35 AM

As far as I can tell, this is China
December 2nd, 2009

Last year, we focused at length on the joy that is the Chinese Basketball Association. It’s a quirky beast; the standard of China’s own domestic players is poor in the grand scheme of things, with the exception of the occasional halfway-decent (or truly fantastic) big man. Knowing this, the CBA have decided to try and replicate a more American style of play in order to improve their national team product. They’ve changed some rules and structure to match the …

Posted by at 3:32 AM

Jay Williams attempting a comeback, sort of
August 12th, 2009

Former Bull Jay Williams plays again, for the first time in two and a half years.

Former NBA point guard Jay Williams is aiming to relaunch his career through the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Williams, the second overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2002 NBA draft – behind Yao Ming, almost lost his life in a motorcycle accident a year later and his promising career appeared to be over.

(more at the link)

Since his accident in …

Posted by at 10:04 PM

Bonzi Wells signs in China
December 15th, 2008

Bonzi Wells Fires His Agent - RealGM Wiretap

If things had worked out slightly different, Bonzi Wells would be earning about $8 million this year from the Sacramento Kings.

As it is, he’ll be earning about $40,000 in China.

Bonzi, pictured here playing an invisible trumpet, famously was reported to have turned down a five-year, $38.5 million extension from the Kings on the advice of his agent, Williams Phillips. Phillips seemingly thought that Bonzi could get more money from elsewhere. He was wrong, though. He was very …

Posted by at 1:45 AM