Yi Jianlian
A towering, skilled big man who shouldered the hopes of Chinese basketball for a generation after Yao Ming.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Chinese basketball player·Birthday: October 27·Millennials
Biography
Yi Jianlian arrived with impossible expectations: he was the chosen successor to Yao Ming, the next great Chinese hope for the NBA. A fluid 7-footer with a smooth outside shot, he was drafted sixth overall in 2007 by the Milwaukee Bucks. His five-season NBA journey was a mix of flashes of brilliance—a 31-point game here, a string of double-doubles there—and a struggle to adapt to the league's physicality and pace. While his stateside career didn't reach the stratospheric heights predicted, his legacy was cemented back home. Returning to the Chinese Basketball Association, he became an unstoppable force for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, winning multiple MVP awards and championships. For over a decade, he was the undisputed leader of the Chinese national team, a constant in international competitions. Yi's story is one of immense pressure, global ambition, and, ultimately, a triumphant homecoming where he solidified his status as a domestic giant.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Yi was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Yi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Yi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won four Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Most Valuable Player awards (2013, 2014, 2016, 2020).
- Led the Guangdong Southern Tigers to multiple CBA championships, including three consecutive titles from 2019 to 2021.
- Represented China in four consecutive Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
Did You Know?
His listed birth year was a subject of controversy, with some NBA sources suggesting he was born in 1984, not 1987.
Yi was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
He scored 29 points in his first NBA Summer League game in 2007.
His nickname, 'The Chairman,' is a play on Mao Zedong's title and a testament to his dominant status in Chinese basketball.
“I just want to play basketball and help my team win.”
