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.
 Sun with the Beijing Aoshen Olympians in 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 6 November 1985 Cangzhou, Hebei, China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Chinese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2007: 2nd round, 40th overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2002–2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2008 | Beijing Olympians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | → Los Angeles D-Fenders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2013 | Beijing Olympians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2017 | Beijing Ducks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Beijing Royal Fighters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at NBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Professional career edit
Beijing Olympians (2002–2008) edit
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[1] 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) edit
After originally entering the 2006 NBA draft but subsequently withdrawing,[1] Sun decided to enter the 2007 NBA draft and was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 40th overall pick.[2] 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.[3]
Only a few days after his arrival in the United States, Sun suffered from a bout with mononucleosis and had to be hospitalized.[4] 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.[5][6]
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.[5][7] He played six games with the team, averaging 0.7 points and 0.2 assists per game.[8] Sun then suffered a left ankle sprain during practice with the D-Fenders and missed the remaining D-League games.[9]
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.[5] 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."[10]
Sun was waived by Los Angeles on 31 July 2009.[11][12]
Return to the Olympians (2009–2013) edit
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.[13] 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) edit
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) edit
Sun joined the Beijing Royal Fighters in 2019. In October 2021, he retired at age 35.[14]
National team career edit
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.[15][16][17]
Personal life edit
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".[18]
Legacy edit
Sun is one of only two players to become a champion of both the NBA and the CBA; the other player to accomplish such a feat is Eric Moreland.[14]
Career statistics edit
CBA statistics edit
| 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 |
| Career | 98 | 4.5 | 3.9 | .468 | .784 | 12.4 |
NBA statistics edit
| 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 edit
| 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 | 108 | 2.8 | .273 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .2 | .1 | .1 | 0.6 | |
References edit
- ^ a b "Yue Sun 2007 Draft Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
- ^ "Yi, Sun Picked in NBA Draft". china.org.cn. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Chinese star Sun Yue makes NBA debut for Lakers". Bangkok Post. December 8, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "NBA Development League: Sun Yue Playerfile". Nba.com. November 6, 1985. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009.
- ^ "Sun goes down - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ "Kobe Bryant: China's tributes led by ex-Lakers teammates as China mourns NBA star". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "Sun Yue Stats - Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "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) - ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "26th FIBA Asia Championship : News Details". Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011.
- ^ "26th FIBA Asia Championship - Wuhan, China". Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
- ^ "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.
External links edit
- Profile at Eurobasket.com