Jeremy Lin vs. Yi Jianlian: Who is the Better Asian Player? Nets Point Guard & Lakers Forward Stat Comparison; 2016-17 NBA Season Game Schedule
Five years after he departed from the NBA, Chinese basketball Olympian Yi Jianlian is officially returning after he inked a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2016-17 NBA season. Brooklyn Nets point guard Jeremy Lin is among the NBA stars who expressed excitement on Jianlian's comeback.
Lin and Jianlian, both 28 years old, are two of the few basketball players of Asian descent who successfully made it in the NBA. With the two stars playing for new teams and taking important roles in the upcoming season, can they be more successful? Who will emerge as the better Asian player?
Second Chances
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According to Andrew Snyder of Hoops Habit, Lin had his share of lackluster performances in the past years but he redeemed himself last season as the secondary point guard of the Charlotte Hornets. After signing a three-year $36-million deal with the Nets during this free agency period, Snyder said that Lin finally gets his chance to showcase that he can be a full-time starting point guard in the league.
Coincidentally, Jianlian also needs to prove something in the upcoming season. Per ESPN's Kevin Pelton, via ABC News, the Chinese Olympian was the Milwaukee Bucks' sixth overall draft in 2007 but he failed to deliver in the succeeding years. He needs to justify in the next season that he is worthy of his second shot in the league.
Pelton believed that Jianlian's experience with China made him acquire necessary improvements to play better in the NBA than his first stint. However, he added that Jianlian's skills are only limited in the role of power forward and he might disappoint if the Lakers will let him play as the center.
On the other hand, Snyder projected that Lin will more likely achieve personal success in the upcoming season and put up solid numbers. But he stressed that this stellar performance is only possible if Lin's supporting cast will stay healthy and perform their roles well.
Stat Comparison & Game Schedule
Lin showcased an impressive performance with the Charlotte Hornets last season. He played only 26.3 minutes per game but averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds. He already accumulated an average of 11.7 points, 4.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in the past six seasons.
Moreover, Jianlian came from a stellar performance with China in the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1 assist. He also acquired an average of 7.9 points, 0.7 assist and 4.9 rebounds during his previous five-year stint in the NBA.
Lin and Jianlian will play against each other for the first time in the 2016-17 season on Nov. 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The teams of the Asian players will also have a rematch on Dec. 14 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
