Does the NBA Want Yi Out of the All-Star Game?
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by The Beast
On Friday, China's basketball press became infuriated when the NBA left Milwaukee Bucks rookie forward Yi Jianlian off the 2008 All Star ballot. The exclusion of Yi's name will make it much more difficult for Chinese supporters of the Bucks' forward to vote for him to start in the annual All Star Game. With Yi off the ballot, one has to wonder if the NBA does not want the rookie forward participating in the All-Star game.
So far this season, the 20-year-old rookie has certainly been impressive, averaging eleven points and 6.9 rebounds a game, while replacing Charlie Villanueva as the Bucks starter. While Yi has become the Bucks' starter, Villanueva is representing the Bucks on the ballot, despite averaging just seven points and four rebounds a game. His appearance instead of Yi's, makes one wonder if the NBA would prefer Jianlian to not make an appearance as a starter. The Chinese papers certainly believe that their is a conspiracy against Yi, as they were extremely critical of the NBA on Friday.
"The NBA does not dare to put Yi Jianlian on the ballot because the voting power of Chinese fans is too big,"
"If the NBA put Yi Jianlian on the ballot without careful consideration ... he would surely start for the East. "
"The NBA fears that if a guy like Yi becomes an All Star and only scores two points in the game, they would lose the meaning of the All Star (game)."
So, what do you think? Does the NBA want Yi off the All-Star ballot.
