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[Saba Sports News] Yi Jianlian, one of China’s top basketball players and a former NBA star, is facing scandal after being accused of soliciting a prostitute. Leaked photos and personal documents online suggest his involvement in an illicit transaction, sparking widespread controversy on social media.
Images of a man resembling Yi, along with screenshots of a $1,500 transaction, surfaced online, causing mixed reactions from fans. Some defended him, calling the images fake, while others were convinced by the evidence.
A compromising photo and ID leak further fueled the scandal. Yi has not yet responded to the accusations, but brands like China Life Insurance and SAIC-GM have removed his likeness from their marketing materials.
Yi’s basketball career spans both the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), where he found great success.
Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007, he played five NBA seasons, with his best year on the New Jersey Nets.
He later returned to China and dominated with the Guangdong Southern Tigers, winning multiple CBA titles and MVP awards. Despite a brief return to the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016, Yi ultimately chose to continue his legacy in China.
Throughout his career, Yi played in four Olympic Games and led China to three Asian championships.
He retired in 2023 after an illustrious run, but the current scandal now threatens to overshadow his storied career. How this controversy will impact his legacy remains uncertain.