CHN/USA - Mavs high on ‘prospect’ Yi

BOSTON (NBA) - Yi Jianlian is hoping his latest stop in the NBA turns out to be the best.

The only Chinese player in the league following the retirement of Yao Ming, Yi has joined the Dallas Mavericks after a two-game stint with the club’s D-League side, the Texas Legends.

Yi hurt his knee while playing in China during the NBA Lockout and only signed with the Mavs last week.

He was so impressive with the Legends, who are led by his former China coach Del Harris, that the Mavs decided to bring into the squad in time for Tuesday’s game at Detroit.

"It was good to play a couple (NBDL) games and get in shape,'' Yi said.

"I haven't played for a month. The knee feels good. I'm very excited to be with the Mavericks.''

Yi averaged 23 points in his two games with the Legends, but it’s a big ask for any player to join the defending NBA champions and get playing time.

"We've just got to get him involved with whatever practice time we have ... and pretty much on the fly is how we're going to have to do it,'' Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

The club is high on the 24-year-old who has played with Milwaukee, New Jersey and Washington in his four seasons in the league.

"We like him as a prospect,” Carlisle said.

“I like his size, skill, and he's a hard-playing guy, which is something that will always help any team.''

Yi played five minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Pistons but did not feature in Wednesday’s victory at Boston.

China will be hoping that Yi has a good year before playing for them at the London Games.

He was their leading player at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, firing the team to the gold medal in Wuhan.

FIBA