Yi Jianlian Protests CBA’s Li-Ning Sponsorship By Leaving Shoes On Court During Game

Leaving it all on the basketball court now has a new meaning. Former NBA player Yi Jianlian is making headlines in the Chinese Basketball Association for all the wrong reasons. During a recent outing for his Guangzhou Tigers, Yi took off his his sneakers during a game and left them on the court in protest of the CBA’s official sponsor with Chinese brand Li-Ning. Yi, a Nike athlete, later returned to the game wearing Nike footwear.

Yi was billed as the next great Chinese basketball star after Yao Ming established that Asian-born players have superstar potential. However, Yi’s start as an NBA player didn’t quite start off on a positive note as he refused to play for the Milwaukee Bucks who drafted him sixth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Nets, where he started his mediocre NBA career.

Most recently, he signed a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, only to be cut from the team before the start of the season.

Source: xhsports