RealGM

In my opinion, I see a lot of hate towards Yi for several reasons:

1. He's an unknown.
2. He got traded for a fan favorite in RJ.
3. He's Asian.

In response to being an unknown, it all stems from the fact that coming out of the draft his representatives demanded that he be drafted by a team with a major market and a major Chinese population in the area. This turned off a lot of people, and rightfully so, because no one has really seen him play except for the highlights overseas and the drills that Yi's camp provided for the media.

Playing one season in the NBA, I think he has shed some of those doubts seeing that he handled the pressure well with all those expectations being high. Let's not forget that, compared to Yao Ming, Yi has progressed better than Yao in terms of adjusting to our kind of basketball.

Yi has also received backlash from the fans' love for RJ, seeing that RJ was traded for him. I love RJ and everything he's done for Nets basketball. I also would've loved to see RJ retire as a Net but it was becoming evident that the current structure of the Nets was basically a one-and-done in the playoffs. Change was imminent and RJ was our #1 piece in achieving this change. I don't know about you guys but I'm sick of always struggling to reach .500 and flaming out of the playoffs.

Lastly, and I'm sad to say it, one thing going against Yi is the fact that he's Asian. I hope I'm wrong but tell me if Yi was American, a lot of people would rave about the trade seeing all Yi's skills and potential. Athletic, good shooter, good rebounder, plays defense and a still unpolished game are just the qualities that would justify RJ being traded for. Just watch this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owYGm9OQIVs

If this guy played college basketball in North Carolina and exhibited all the qualities on the court like the clip suggests, would people still be on the fence about the trade? Or will ThornsKi and Co. be heralded as pure geniuses for orchestrating such a trade for a young player with potential as well as cap space?

Just playing devil's advocate, he displayed most of his skills playing in a weak league (CBA) against weaker competition, had he gone to college here and hown the same skills, it would've meant more. With that said, I agree completely that there's the feel that basketball is an American sport and the foreign players have to "earn" their place. This is even more true with Asian players (all 2 of them) since their European counterparts have been around the league longer. I see it more as a familiar vs unfamiliar thing though, don't really see it as a race or ethnic thing. To sum it up I don't think people will dislike him because he's Asian and he plays in the NBA, but it will take more out of him for people to accept and like him. Unless you're Chinese like me, I like him already and hope he succeeds lol.

You know why i hate him??? Because he worked out against nobody absolutely no one!!!!!! He simply was afraid that his draftstock would fall if he would have worked out against draftclass opponents!!! Add to the fact that he saw himself as as superstar even before he played a single NBA Game and did not want to play in Milwaukee...Who does he think he is???? Just tell me guys...

I'm fine with him. I think he has good upside. I think it was the best prospect we could have pried away from a team that wanted RJ. It's worth the risk. I honestly think it was more his "management" than him refusing to do things or act like he is God's gift to basketball. I don't really put that much blame on him. Regardless, I think he's worth the risk. A lot of people here think the same way. Just a few that are either sour over losing RJ or sour that we went into a ALL OUT REBUILD.

1.Youre right the fact that we lost RJ who was by far my (and probably a good majority of this board's) favourite player, RJ was the heart and soul of this team he didnt want to go he wanted to be a part of the rebuilding process, instead Thorn decided to ungratefully trade him for a package thats WAAAAAAAAAAAY lower than his overall value.

2.He has soft bust written all over him seriously Ive seen nothing so far that makes me think that he's anything special.

3.He's sooo damn cocky seriously you get drafted in the NBA be grateful and STFU you have no right to demand a trade.

Of course if he actually develops into a great player all this hate will dissapear in a second and I'll start a "10 reasons why Yi is awesome thread"

Since I'm a Yi fan, I feel obligated to defend him. He's not the first to have restrictions put on workouts, to not have worked out for certain teams, to not had measurements, etc. in sports or basketball. This is all conjecture, but he seems to be a pretty simple and guileless kid that's just set on playing basketball, so I'm with prelude when I say his agent was probably the one that didn't want him to risk lowering his stock and his agent probably raised all the hoopla about not playing for Milwaukee. When he did play for Mil no one questioned his effort on the court (even through his struggles - and at one point, he struggled alot - and through the frustration he must've felt playing with chucker Redd and Me Williams), his first few games I thought he looked like a lost puppy running around just happy to be on the court. Will he be good? I hope so, he has alot of progress to make.

Yi is a very talented 7' bigman. I have no doubt that we received good value for RJ in Jianlian, and expect big things from him in the future.

Arrogant? Because his handlers (including numbskull agent Dan Fegan) and the Chinese government railroaded his draft process? Soft? Because he's a skilled 4-man and plays decent defense? Bust???? I don't get it.

I like doritos.

BrandonE wrote:I like doritos.

Me too.

I hope Yi makes the All-star team

claiming someone as cocky or arrogant without facts is just plain ignorant... i thought it was almost general knowledge that Yi's handlers (notably, the much hated Dan Fegan, Yi's agent) were the ones controlling all of Yi's pre draft decisions.

oh and adam.... yi never demanded a trade out of milwaukee.

RJ was my dog but everyone new this was coming and I like what we got back.The IZOD center is gonna be like China town in NY i love it. Yi wanted a chinese community well he got it! From fort lee to NY if we dont have a sold out crowd every night now, then will never have it unless we get LBJ in 2010. I'm a colombian-italian mut from JERSE I hope i didnt come off racist cuz i'm not. (jus keepin it real).I like Yi he's 7ft, mobile,tuff and can shoot lights out u need that in the NBA these days. All we need now is a new coach someone are young players will respect someone who actually played basketball not someone who watched from the bench his whole life.Whateva happened to all the Mark jackson talk? We gotta start that up again maybe Rod and KIKI will here us this time.





P.S. I love Asian woman there so F'n sexy GO NETS

Yi is a soft tweener, without ball handling skills, without strength, and without any sort of passing ability.

On the otherside, his measurables are great: 7ft tall, super vertical jump, a "hard working, high character" guy, and a marketing dream to any team looking to sell jerseys or advertising to Chinese companies. He also has a nice looking jumper (when being guarded by a chair).

With that being said: did any of you Yi supporters actually watch him play last year? He was dreadfully bad, perhaps the worst starting player in the entire league. He was outmuscled, outsmarted, outhustled, and just plain outed as a fraud wrapped in a shamockery.

Yes, the apologists can continue to point to Yi's measurables, the fact that he is young (or is he? No he's not), and the whole "look at Dirk in his first year" argument...but really, just watch the guy play. He is horrible and light years away from being an even half decent contributor to an NBA team. I feel bad for anyone that is putting hope into his developing into a R-Jeff type of performer, because it will never happen. The best player you got in the deal was Bobby Simmons (I'm so sorry).

PS> I have never had any bias against the Nets, I actually kind of like you guys due to the Kidd years. But Yi is the biggest overly marketed, undertalented poster boy that the NBA has ever pimped out. I understand their thinking, but its a losing bet when their superstar plays like a teenaged girl.

St.Nick wrote:Yi is a soft tweener, without ball handling skills, without strength, and without any sort of passing ability.

On the otherside, his measurables are great: 7ft tall, super vertical jump, a "hard working, high character" guy, and a marketing dream to any team looking to sell jerseys or advertising to Chinese companies. He also has a nice looking jumper (when being guarded by a chair).

With that being said: did any of you Yi supporters actually watch him play last year? He was dreadfully bad, perhaps the worst starting player in the entire league. He was outmuscled, outsmarted, outhustled, and just plain outed as a fraud wrapped in a shamockery.

Yes, the apologists can continue to point to Yi's measurables, the fact that he is young (or is he? No he's not), and the whole "look at Dirk in his first year" argument...but really, just watch the guy play. He is horrible and light years away from being an even half decent contributor to an NBA team. I feel bad for anyone that is putting hope into his developing into a R-Jeff type of performer, because it will never happen. The best player you got in the deal was Bobby Simmons (I'm so sorry).

PS> I have never had any bias against the Nets, I actually kind of like you guys due to the Kidd years. But Yi is the biggest overly marketed, undertalented poster boy that the NBA has ever pimped out. I understand their thinking, but its a losing bet when their superstar plays like a teenaged girl.

St Nick will simply just not rest until he sees Yi fail..

i like yi, im actually glad hes gone from the mil.

No one here defended RJ more then I did. Yeah he was the heart and soul of this team. He will be missed.

That said. I have no problem with this trade. Thorn is just staying consistant.

Trade Vet for young talent, expiring contracts and/or draft picks. We got a top 5 pick and an expiring contract. Now it is only a matter of time before Thorn pulls the final pug.

MnM_McgradyMing wrote:

St.Nick wrote:Yi is a soft tweener, without ball handling skills, without strength, and without any sort of passing ability.

On the otherside, his measurables are great: 7ft tall, super vertical jump, a "hard working, high character" guy, and a marketing dream to any team looking to sell jerseys or advertising to Chinese companies. He also has a nice looking jumper (when being guarded by a chair).

With that being said: did any of you Yi supporters actually watch him play last year? He was dreadfully bad, perhaps the worst starting player in the entire league. He was outmuscled, outsmarted, outhustled, and just plain outed as a fraud wrapped in a shamockery.

Yes, the apologists can continue to point to Yi's measurables, the fact that he is young (or is he? No he's not), and the whole "look at Dirk in his first year" argument...but really, just watch the guy play. He is horrible and light years away from being an even half decent contributor to an NBA team. I feel bad for anyone that is putting hope into his developing into a R-Jeff type of performer, because it will never happen. The best player you got in the deal was Bobby Simmons (I'm so sorry).

PS> I have never had any bias against the Nets, I actually kind of like you guys due to the Kidd years. But Yi is the biggest overly marketed, undertalented poster boy that the NBA has ever pimped out. I understand their thinking, but its a losing bet when their superstar plays like a teenaged girl.

St Nick will simply just not rest until he sees Yi fail..

I just think people need to examine the facts about this guy before just making silly, overly hopeful statements on him just due to NBA front office generated hype.

If the guy could actually play then I wouldn't be able to say the things I do but deep down anyone that has actually watched him in the NBA knows that he really can't play on this level.

You don't think people have examined the facts?? I totally 100% agree with you that he can't pass, is weak as **** and needs to work on his hands... however, all these are attributes that can be developed. Athletic ability, speed and height cannot be taught. His form on his shot is almost perfect and he has proven he can shoot against real nba competition, not just against a chair like you claim. These are facts and this is why people are still so high on him... is that so outlandish?

for you to think that EVERYONE who has watched him play should believe he is a p*ssy who cant ball is stupid. If you have actually watched him play last year (as you claim) then you have seen flashes of brilliance. Remember he was a ROOKIE last year. Sure he had a **** 2nd have of the season.. remember when yao hit the rookie wall in 2002-03? people like you were calling him a bust left and right.

There is definitely a chance that he fails in the league but to claim that all these people making "overly hopeful statements" about yi haven't examined that facts is beyond ignorant.

St.Nick wrote:

MnM_McgradyMing wrote:

St.Nick wrote:Yi is a soft tweener, without ball handling skills, without strength, and without any sort of passing ability.

On the otherside, his measurables are great: 7ft tall, super vertical jump, a "hard working, high character" guy, and a marketing dream to any team looking to sell jerseys or advertising to Chinese companies. He also has a nice looking jumper (when being guarded by a chair).

With that being said: did any of you Yi supporters actually watch him play last year? He was dreadfully bad, perhaps the worst starting player in the entire league. He was outmuscled, outsmarted, outhustled, and just plain outed as a fraud wrapped in a shamockery.

Yes, the apologists can continue to point to Yi's measurables, the fact that he is young (or is he? No he's not), and the whole "look at Dirk in his first year" argument...but really, just watch the guy play. He is horrible and light years away from being an even half decent contributor to an NBA team. I feel bad for anyone that is putting hope into his developing into a R-Jeff type of performer, because it will never happen. The best player you got in the deal was Bobby Simmons (I'm so sorry).

PS> I have never had any bias against the Nets, I actually kind of like you guys due to the Kidd years. But Yi is the biggest overly marketed, undertalented poster boy that the NBA has ever pimped out. I understand their thinking, but its a losing bet when their superstar plays like a teenaged girl.

St Nick will simply just not rest until he sees Yi fail..

I just think people need to examine the facts about this guy before just making silly, overly hopeful statements on him just due to NBA front office generated hype.

If the guy could actually play then I wouldn't be able to say the things I do but deep down anyone that has actually watched him in the NBA knows that he really can't play on this level.

So you get out of your way and visit every single thread about Yi to get your point across and tell everyone how crap he really is, all because of the fact that you think he is not that good?
I dunno but it seems you really have a passion of hating this guy and telling people how much he sucks. And imo, a lot of your points are exaggerated eg the best player New Jersey got in this deal with Bobby Simmons??? You gotta be crazy to think that

He has more money than me.