Chapter 55: Jonas' Excitement Against the Chinese Men's Basketball Team!
Believe it or not, the Chinese men's basketball team has been part of the NBA Summer League as far back as 1985, led by then-head coach Qian Chenghai.
From 1996 to 1998, they played three straight years in the California Summer League—and they had their moments.
In the summer of '96, Hu Weidong—nicknamed the "Chinese Jordan"—went head-to-head with a young Kobe Bryant and cooked him, dropping 30 points right on his head.
He had it all: dunks off the dribble, pull-up threes, steals turning into fast breaks, chase-down blocks—Hu Weidong was on another level that night.
"Where'd this yellow-skinned dude come from?" fans were probably thinking.
Sure, Kobe was only 17 back then, but he was far from a pushover. He tore it up that summer league, even putting up 36 in one game.
Against the Chinese team, Kobe still balled out—fadeaways, acrobatic layups, spin moves. He ended with 22 points, showing flashes of the future Black Mamba.
But after that stretch, the Chinese national team disappeared from the summer league for a while.
Fast forward to 2007—they're back. Why? Because Beijing 2008 was right around the corner. Time to level up.
This version of Team China had its own firepower: Wang Zhizhi (aka Dazhi) had just returned from overseas, Yi Jianlian was still raw but already the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft, and Zhu Fangyu (a.k.a. Zhu 8) was still Asia's top small forward.
Yao Ming didn't play due to injury, so the core of the squad was the "Zhi-Lian" duo—Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian.
Alongside them were veterans like Liu Wei, Wang Shipeng, Zhu 8, Du Feng, Li Nan, and the well-known Coach Du Feng.
A lineup that sparked nostalgia in any Chinese basketball fan.
And for Chen Yan, just seeing those names got him hyped.
Before tip-off, Chen Yan arrived early at the arena to get some shots up.
As the Chinese players started filing in, he walked over to greet them.
As a younger player, it was only right to show respect. That was just how Chen Yan rolled—flashy when it counted, humble when it mattered.
Out of all the players, he talked most with Yi Jianlian. They'd met at last month's NBA Draft Combine.
"How's your English coming along?" Chen Yan asked with a grin.
"Still grinding. I can understand most of it now… but speaking's a little tough," A-Lian admitted, a shy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
You could read his uneasiness in his body language.
"If you wanna survive in the league, you've gotta break that language barrier," Chen Yan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Just keep reading and speaking every day. You'll get there—trust me."
The whole Chinese squad was friendly and chill. Chen Yan couldn't help but wonder if, once they got closer, Zhu 8 and Coach Du might take him out for hot pot and cold beer after the game.
As the players stretched and warmed up, the game broadcast kicked in.
"Viewers, the Chinese men's basketball summer league roster was finalized back in May," explained CCTV5 commentator Yu Jia. "At the time, Chen Yan was competing in the NCAA Championship and preparing for the NBA Draft, which is why he wasn't included."
Fans watching back home expressed some disappointment—but at the same time, this was a rare treat.
Even Chen Yan found it kinda surreal.
After all, how many chances does a Chinese player get to play against his own national team?
"Alright folks, the whistle blows, and we're underway!"
"This is the third game for the Chinese men's team in this summer league. They've dropped the last two—one to the Grizzlies and one to the Kings. Let's see if they've made adjustments. Meanwhile, eyes are also on Chen Yan tonight to see if he can show out again!"
Veteran commentator Sun Zhengping's voice brought that old-school Chinese broadcast flair as the game tipped off.
Yi Jianlian won the jump ball cleanly, and China got the first possession.
Liu Wei brought it across halfcourt and initiated the offense. Zhu 8 used a solid off-ball screen to shake free and curl to the perimeter.
Catch. Rise. Fire.
Splash!
First bucket of the night—nothing but net from deep.
Zhu 8 didn't just hit threes—he launched missiles. Catch-and-shoot off movement was his bread and butter.
Now it was the Suns' turn.
Banks, a thick-built point guard with something to prove, brought the ball up with confidence. He didn't even look to pass—he wanted smoke.
He turned on the jets, blew by Liu Wei, and barreled toward the paint.
In the summer league, it's every man for himself. Everyone's trying to earn a spot, earn a deal, earn respect. No one's passing up chances to get noticed.
Banks stormed into the lane. Before Yi Jianlian could rotate over, Banks took off and flicked up a tough floater with his right hand.
Clank!
It hit the front of the rim hard and bounced straight up into the air.
Just as Dazhi and A-Lin turned to grab the defensive rebound, a sudden flash of orange light burst between them—
BOOM!!
Chen Yan threw down a one-handed poster dunk!
It was like a god descending from the heavens.
Sun Zhengping (excited): "Oh! What a jam! Chen Yan with the hammer! That was unreal—he took flight and detonated at the rim!"
Yu Jia (deadpan): "..."
Yu Jia was speechless. Of course he jumped to dunk—who throws down without jumping?
Working commentary alongside Coach Sun was always a challenge. Half the time, Yu Jia didn't even know how to respond.
On the floor, A-Lin and Dazhi locked eyes, totally lost.
It wasn't that the big men weren't in position—they simply had no clue when Chen Yan had broken through. One second he was nowhere, and the next he was above the rim.
In the stands, nearly 20,000 fans erupted!
No one expected fireworks this early. But they got their money's worth right out the gate.
Most summer leagues barely draw a few hundred spectators. But the Las Vegas Summer League? It's a different beast—20,000 fans deep and loud. The energy is why NBA teams love coming here. The stakes feel real.
Back on the court, Liu Wei brought the ball up, dribbled to the top of the arc, and passed to Wang Qiyi—Wang 7—who swung it over to Zhu Ba—Zhu 8.
The Chinese national team ran their sets with precision. This was a squad of seasoned vets. They didn't get rattled by highlights, not even monster dunks from Chen Yan.
After a few sharp passes, Dazhi found Alian cutting baseline.
Alian took off and dunked with both hands!
Height, wingspan, vertical—Alian checked every box. He wasn't a freak athlete, but he was efficient, smooth, and smart. In transition, no one in Summer League could stop him.
The crowd roared again. Both teams had thrown down dunks in back-to-back possessions—this was shaping up to be a show.
Suns possession.
Banks brought the ball up but didn't force anything. As soon as he crossed half-court, he passed it to Chen Yan and cleared out.
Chen Yan palmed the ball with one hand and casually held it behind his back.
He didn't call a play. He didn't give a signal. But everyone on the court knew—clear out, let him cook.
That's the kind of respect you get as the No. 2 overall pick.
Wang 7 stepped up with tight defense, hands active.
Chen Yan gave a head fake, then suddenly snapped the rhythm—
Double crossover.
Wang 7's ankles? Gone. He stumbled backward like he got hit with a crossover from Allen Iverson and almost hit the floor.
Chen Yan blew past him and shifted into overdrive, attacking the paint like a freight train.
Dazhi and Alian both rotated over—
But Chen Yan took off anyway!
Mid-air gliding eurostep.
He weaved right between them with a mid-air hang-and-switch and kissed the ball off the glass.
Bucket.
Fan 1: "Yo! That was poetry in motion! Dude's walking in the air!"
Fan 2: "Wang 7 just did a full samba dance after getting shook!"
Fan 3: "That hang-time... was he gliding on a zipline?!"
Fan 4: "When Chen Yan turns the jets on, forget it! Not even Dazhi and Alian together can stop him!"
Fans watching back in China were losing it.
Even if this wasn't their first time seeing Chen Yan, he had that every-time-you-watch-him-he-does-something-new magic.
Bang!
On the next possession, Wang 7 came off a screen and launched a wide-open three—but bricked it.
Wang 7 was that kind of shooter. Wide open? Bricks. Hand in his face? Swish. He was streaky, emotional, and totally unpredictable. A classic rhythm player.
Chen Yan snatched the rebound and immediately pushed the pace. In a blur, he was already beyond the three-point arc.
The Chinese defense scrambled—Liu Wei up top, Wang 7 sliding left, Zhu 8 closing in behind.
Three defenders on him.
And then—
Chen Yan launched.
From outside the arc, he took a long stride, cradled the ball, and lifted off!
Was he laying it up from the free-throw line?!
Everyone froze.
Then came the first sound.
Bang! — The ball smacked the backboard hard.
Followed by a second sound—much louder.
BOOM!!!
Throw-up-and-catch dunk!!
Chen Yan had lobbed it to himself off the glass and slammed it down with both hands!
The crowd exploded!
Cameras panned to Coach Jonas on the sideline—head coach of the Chinese national team.
He tried to keep a straight face... but couldn't. A twitch in his lips, a flicker in his eyes—you could see it. The man was shook.
He wasn't just impressed—he was inspired.
Watching Chen Yan live was a different experience from film. It felt real. It felt historic.
Jonas found himself imagining a dream scenario—Yao Ming and Chen Yan suiting up together for China in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The crowd. The spotlight. The national anthem.
That moment.
What a beautiful picture.
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