Chinese basketball player Yi Jianlian played his last game on Thursday for the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) side Guangdong Tigers before leaving for NBA.

 

 

Yi Jianlian shakes hands with his loyalties at a game on Thursday, September 6, 2007 where he bid farewell to CBA matches. (Photo: China Foto Press)

 

Yi didn't appear on court but sent his wishes to supporters at the game held in Dongguan in southern Guangdong Province, said a report of website sina.com.

 

Yi was picked as the No.6 in June's draft by Milwaukee Bucks. But a dispute took place later between the two sides as media reported the seven-foot (2.13-meter) Yi preferred a city with more Chinese communities.

 

At the break of the game, he promised to spare no effort to play in his first NBA season and not let people down.

 

Yi was among the core players who helped Guangdong team clinch three CBA titles straight over the past five years.

 

The player signed a standard rookie scale contract with the Bucks in Hong Kong on August 29.

 

(CRI September 7, 2007)