NBA legend Scottie Pippen has urged Yi Jianlian to end his
standoff with the Milwaukee Bucks and sign with the team that
selected him as the sixth pick in this year's draft.
Pippen told Yi to look at the decision from a different
perspective - no matter what his agent says.
"I think Yi should know his agent works for him, it's not him
who works for his agent. He will have to make a decision for
himself," Pippen told China Daily yesterday. "Just looking at the
fact that he doesn't want to play in that market, I think he should
really try to reconsider and embrace the fact that not only are you
a part of the NBA, but you have a chance to go out and make a name
for yourself.
"The city of Milwaukee is going to be very happy to have him
there. They are more than open and ready to embrace him.
"The Houston Rockets was not a top team when Yao Ming was
selected top pick but Yao has established himself there and made
some changes."
Milwaukee picked up the 19-year-old power forward even after
Yi's representatives refused the team access to his workouts as
they steered him to a city with a large Chinese population.
Bucks officials met with Yi at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas,
but Yi's representatives are reportedly seeking to make a trade
that will land him in a bigger market.
However, Pippen said Yi is likely to get some guaranteed playing
time in Milwaukee, and this could make it a good place for the
Chinese star to "create his own world."
"Michael Redd has established himself as an All-Star in the game
but they haven't fared well as a team, so I think this is a great
opportunity if he welcomes it," Pippen said.
According to SI.com, NBA commissioner David Stern may involve
himself in the dispute to protect small market teams such as the
Bucks being shunned by stars in the draft.
Mark Fischer, managing director of NBA China, would not confirm
the report, but he believes Yi will be joining the Bucks in the
near future.
"We are pretty confident that Yi will end up in Milwaukee and
enjoy it," Fischer said yesterday. "From a CBA (Chinese Basketball
Association) perspective, the important thing is for him to be in a
stable situation and get good playing time and come back and help
the national team."
Yi has experienced mixed fortunes playing for Team China at the
Summer League in Las Vegas. He had just 3 points on 0-6 field goal
shooting in his team's 88-65 loss to the New York Knicks on
Tuesday.
The day before he had 17 points in the last quarter and sunk the
winning shot at the buzzer against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It's a good thing that Team China joined the Summer League,"
said Pippen. "I know they will lose some games (because) of the
quantity of games there in the US but it's great for them.
"I think it will be helpful for the team to see how far they are
behind the American players and what they need to improve ahead of
the Beijing Olympics."
Pippen, 38, spent the best years of his career down the road
from Milwaukee in Chicago. Together with Michael Jordan he led the
Bulls to six NBA championships, and he has been named one of the
NBA's 50 greatest players.
Pippen is on a four-day Beijing trip following a week in
Shanghai where he participated in Basketball Without Borders, the
NBA's global development and community relations outreach progam.
Yesterday he attended a press conference organized by Motorola, a
partner of the NBA in Asia.
On Tuesday, he got an opportunity to have a look at China's
talent pool by holding a training clinic with students at Beijing
No 4 High School.
He said the Chinese youngsters have a common problem - their
bodies are not strong enough. He said they should do more physical
training instead of just working on their shooting skills.
"These players are two or three years behind those in American
high schools," he said.
Pippen said he would spend more time helping basketball
development around the world in the future and denied any plans for
a comeback.
"I am not looking forward to coming back to NBA," said the
former player, who last season had spoken of his desire to suit up
again.
(China Daily via Agencies July 12, 2007)