Go east to China, young basketball man

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-18 11:22

Dozens of former NBA players are seeking jobs in the CBA.

John Lucas III (pictured), who played for the Houston Rockets, has joined Yao Ming's Shanghai Sharks.

Lucas signed a three-year contract with the Rockets in the 2006-07 season and teamed up with Yao as the side reached the playoffs. He was cut in Oct 2007.

The Sharks are having trials with Garret Siler, a college senior who played in this year's summer league for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The center averaged 8.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in five games with the Timberwolves.

Forward DerMarr Johnson joined Jiangsu Dragons last week.

Johnson, who was drafted sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2000, averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds during his two seasons with the Hawks before he was injured in a car crash in 2002.

The 29-year-old also played with the San Antonio Spurs, New Yorks Knicks and Denver Nuggets.

Ansu Sesay, who averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds with the Dallas Mavericks and the former Seattle SuperSonics (Oklahoma City Thunder), was in contact with several CBA teams and finally ended with Shanxi Zhongyu Kylins. Before Sesay, Lee Benson and Morris Taylor has already trialed with the Shanxi team.

Taylor had spells with the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings and Benson was one of the best foreign players in the CBA when he played for Yunnan Honghe.

Xinhua