Former NBA 6th Overall Pick Retires

According to China Global Television Network, Yi Jianlian, who was the sixth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, has retired.

Yi Jianlian was initially the sixth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. 

The 35-year-old most recently played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers (CBA) and averaged 10.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.1% from the three-point range in 32 games. 

On Wednesday, China Global Television Network reported that Jianlian announced his retirement from basketball (h/t HoopsRumors). 

6 x CBA Champion Yi Jianlian announced his retirement

Between 150-200 million people in China watched his first game against Yao Ming in 2007. The 06 Super Bowl had about 93M viewers in the US & the 06 NBA Finals had an average of about 13M viewers.
pic.twitter.com/CK4QvUf9Ho

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 30, 2023

Over five seasons in the NBA, Jianlian played for the Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks. 

His career averages are 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 40.4% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point range in 272 regular season games (he also appeared in one NBA playoff game with the Mavs).

Arguably, his best year in the NBA came with the Nets (2010). 

That season, Jianlian averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 40.3% from the field and 36.6% from the three-point range in 52 games (he started in 51).

Jianlian's last game in the NBA was in 2012 when he was only 24, so he had a long career playing in the CBA. 

Throughout his illustrious 21-year professional career, Yi Jianlian won seven Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championships and was a five-time CBA Regular Season MVP and three-time CBA Finals MVP, ranking second in league all-time scoring. pic.twitter.com/QCPEb6Fm1m

— Sports China (@PDChinaSports) August 29, 2023

During the 2015 season, he averaged a sensational 27.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest while shooting 59.3% from the field and 42.3% from the three-point range in 37 games for the Southern Tigers. 

According to Sports China, Jianlian won an incredible seven CBA Championships, five MVP Awards and three Finals MVPs.