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Sun Yue (basketball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Chinese name, the family name is Sun.

Sun Yue
孙悦
Sun with the Beijing Olympians in 2008
Personal information
Born (1985-11-06) 6 November 1985 (age 39)
Cangzhou, Hebei, China
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2007: 2nd round, 40th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career2002–2021
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Number9
Career history
2002–2008Beijing Olympians
2008–2009Los Angeles Lakers
2008–2009→ Los Angeles D-Fenders
2009–2013Beijing Olympians
2013–2017Beijing Ducks
2019–2021Beijing Royal Fighters
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  China
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2005 Doha
Silver medal – second place 2009 Tianjin
Gold medal – first place 2011 Wuhan
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Doha
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou
East Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Macau

Sun Yue (simplified Chinese: 孙悦; traditional Chinese: 孫悅; pinyin: Sūn Yuè [swə́n yɤ̂]; born November 6, 1985) is a Chinese former professional basketball player. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, making him one of two players born in China to win an NBA championship, the other being Mongolian-Chinese center Mengke Bateer, who won the 2003 NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs.[1]

Professional career

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Beijing Olympians (2002–2008)

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Sun Yue signed his first professional contract with Chinese Basketball Association side Beijing Olympians in 2002 at the age of 17. In 2004, Sun was selected to the Chinese national under-20 team, but when Beijing refused to release him to play, the team was banned from playing in the Chinese Basketball Association. After touring in Taiwan, the team moved to play in the American Basketball Association. In Sun's first season in the American Basketball Association, he scored 9.5 points per game and seven rebounds per game with 6.7 assists per game. Sun also had his first triple-double of his career with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists[2] and was named to the All-ABA second team. In the following season, Sun improved his numbers, making the All-ABA first team with 13.5 points per game and six rebounds per game with 10.5 assists per game.

Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2009)

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After originally entering the 2006 NBA draft but subsequently withdrawing,[2] Sun decided to enter the 2007 NBA draft and was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 40th overall pick.[3] With Sun being drafted alongside Yi Jianlian that year, it marked the first time in NBA draft history that two China-born players were drafted in the same year. That feat would not be repeated until 2016. It would also be the first time in modern NBA history that a Chinese basketball player would be drafted outside of the CBA. However, Sun stayed with the Beijing Olympians for another year before signing with Los Angeles in August 2008.[4]

Only a few days after his arrival in the United States, Sun suffered from a bout with mononucleosis and had to be hospitalized.[5] After recovering from his illness, Sun finally made his debut on 7 December 2008 against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring four points in five minutes of play.[6][7]

Sun played in a total of ten regular season games and averaged 2.8 minutes and 0.6 points per game before being assigned to the Lakers' D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[6][8] He played six games with the team, averaging 0.7 points and 0.2 assists per game.[9] Sun then suffered a left ankle sprain during practice with the D-Fenders and missed the remaining D-League games.[10]

Sun eventually recovered and traveled with the Lakers as a member of their playoff roster, but he was not activated. Since he was a member of the team when the Lakers ultimately won their championship, he did receive a ring and was crowned as an NBA champion. He is the first ethnic Chinese player to win an NBA championship.[6] Following the death of Kobe Bryant in 2020, Sun posted a tribute to Bryant on his Weibo account, writing: "After I came to the Lakers, I was lucky to be your teammate. This is the dream of many people."[11]

Sun was waived by Los Angeles on 31 July 2009.[12][13]

Return to the Olympians (2009–2013)

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Sun joined the New York Knicks, but was waived on 7 October 2009, before the next season started, due to a stress fracture in his knee.[14] He did not play for two seasons until returning to the CBA in the 2013–14 season, where he yet again played for the Beijing Olympians.

Beijing Ducks (2013–2017)

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After playing several more seasons with the Beijing Olympians (remaining with the club until its eventual disbanding in 2013), Sun then signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2013. He played a vital role in helping Beijing win their second CBA championship title during the 2013–14 season. Not only that, but he also provided a useful role in helping Beijing repeat as champions a year later.

Beijing Royal Fighters (2019–2021)

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Sun joined the Beijing Royal Fighters in 2019. In October 2021, he retired at age 35.[15]

National team career

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Sun competed in the NBA Summer League with the Chinese national basketball team in the summer of 2007. This was seen as a chance for the Chinese national team to gain further experience against international competition in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which Sun would also compete in. He also participated in the 2007 Stanković Continental Champions' Cup and played a vital role in the wins against Venezuela and New Zealand. Sun earned a silver medal in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship after China finished as runners-up in the tournament. He earned a gold medal in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship as his side won against Jordan.[16][17][18]

Personal life

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According to Chinese media Baidu Sports, Sun presented his NBA championship ring to his girlfriend Chen Lu when he proposed. According to the Chinese model, Sun "sees the ring as his highest honour and most prized possession".[19]

Legacy

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Sun is one of only three players to become a champion of both the NBA and the CBA; the other players to accomplish such a feat are Mengke Bateer and Eric Moreland.[15]

Career statistics

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CBA statistics

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Year Team GP RPG APG FG% FT% PPG
2013–14 Beijing 49 5.1 4.0 .456 .721 13.7
2014–15 Beijing 49 3.9 3.7 .480 .846 11.1
2015–16 Beijing 35 4.5 2.8 .416 .811 10.8
2016–17 Beijing 36 4.9 2.8 .377 .600 7.9
Career 169 4.6 3.3 .432 .745 10.9

NBA statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008–09† L.A. Lakers 10 0 2.8 .273 .000 .000 .0 .2 .1 .1 0.6
Career 10 0 2.8 .273 .000 .000 .0 .2 .1 .1 0.6

References

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  1. ^ "List of NBA champions born in China". Stathead. Archived from the original on November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Yue Sun 2007 Draft Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  3. ^ "Yi, Sun Picked in NBA Draft". china.org.cn. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  4. ^ Hine, Chris (August 9, 2008). "Lakers agree to terms with guard Sun Yue, 2007 second-round pick". LA Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  5. ^ Bresnahan, Mike (September 26, 2008). "Lakers rookie Sue Yue has mononucleosis". LA Times. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Los Angeles Lakers Where Are They Now?: Catching Up with Sun Yue Archived December 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Bleacher Report. May 29, 2012.
  7. ^ "Chinese star Sun Yue makes NBA debut for Lakers". Bangkok Post. December 8, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  8. ^ Turner, Broderick (March 6, 2009). "Lakers send Sun Yue to D-League". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  9. ^ "NBA Development League: Sun Yue Playerfile". Nba.com. November 6, 1985. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "Sun goes down - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  11. ^ "Kobe Bryant: China's tributes led by ex-Lakers teammates as China mourns NBA star". South China Morning Post. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  12. ^ "Sun Yue Stats - Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  13. ^ "Page Not Found - Los Angeles Times". Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  14. ^ Alan Hahn (October 7, 2009). "Yue, Pruitt among four waived by Knicks". Newsday.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  15. ^ a b NBA champion Sun Yue retires on eve of Chinese basketball season Jonathan White (South China Morning Post), 16 October 2021. Accessed 28 October 2021.
  16. ^ "FIBA ASIA - China book place in London in front of record TV audience". Fiba.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  17. ^ "26th FIBA Asia Championship : News Details". Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011.
  18. ^ "26th FIBA Asia Championship - Wuhan, China". Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "一生荣耀！孙悦用湖人总冠军戒指求婚成功如今情人节送冠军项链 - 百度体育". Fiba.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
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