KTV 'frenzy' a cakewalk
By Luke T. Johnson (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-09 10:08

It's hard to gauge which story caused a bigger stir among Chinese fans of Yi Jianlian: that the NBA sophomore was suddenly shipped to the New Jersey Nets on the eve of the NBA draft, or that he was caught partying at a KTV in Beijing until 4 am when he was supposed to be preparing mind, body and soul for the Olympics.

News and photos of Yi's late-night dalliance with girlfriend actress Shi Yanfei spread across Chinese tabloids last week in what some reports called a "media frenzy". Those feasting in the frenzy, shocked the 20-year-old would risk distraction and venture so far astray of his Olympic training regimen, demanded to know if and how Yi would be punished.

Chinese basketball officials rightfully downplayed the event, saying there are no plans to punish the power forward and suggesting the media's obsession with the story may in fact prove more distracting to the young star than would an innocent night of karaoke. After all, Yi has much bigger things on his mind, not the least of which includes preparing for the notoriously nasty media that await him on either side of the Hudson River.

The trade that sent Yi to the Nets and Richard Jefferson to the Bucks seemed to come out of nowhere for Chinese fans who have spent the last year trying to find Milwaukee on a map. After a season of learning to love the cellar-dwelling Bucks, fans will now have to get familiar with a whole new cast of characters on another team likely bound for the draft lottery.

Some are disturbed that Yi's young career already resembles that of Wang Zhizhi. Wang, the first Chinese to play in the NBA, never spent more than two seasons on a single team, bouncing from coast to coast in a forgettable five-year career. But Yi is not Wang, and the Bucks' decision to move him was based on their desire to win now instead of waiting around for Yi to develop. It's not that the Bucks gave up on him; it's that the Nets are in a situation where they can be more patient as Yi puts some polish on his game.

Indeed, drums of ink have been spilled discussing the Nets' situation. Any move they make sparks an outpouring of speculation that they are clearing salary-cap space for the golden free-agent class of 2010, which includes Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and (cue trumpets) LeBron James.

James is on record proclaiming his love for Brooklyn - the very borough the Nets are planning to move to in 2011. The fact that James and hip-hop mogul (and Nets part owner) Jay-Z are good friends only fuels the speculation. And James' desire to play in a market bigger than Cleveland has never been a secret. Yi can relate. Everyone remembers his holdout with the Bucks last summer based on the fact he wanted to play in a city with a bigger Asian population than Milwaukee. One year later, his wish has been granted.

The Nets currently play only 20 km outside New York City, home to the biggest Chinese population in the US. When the Nets move to Brooklyn, Yi will be just one subway stop from Chinatown. The 250,000 Chinese people in Brooklyn will be a built-in fanbase.

But Yi must realize he has left the comforts of a small-town press quick to forgive and willing to hold his hand. Media in New Jersey and especially New York will eat him alive if he doesn't produce. The KTV "media frenzy" will be like singing in the rain compared to what's in store.