Guangdong Southern Tigers power forward Yi Jianlian (L) playing for the China national team in this file photo. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former National Basketball Association star Yi Jianlian led the Guangdong Winnerway Southern Tigers to a 118-114 round 30 road victory over the reeling Jilin Tonggang Northeast Tigers in a 2015-2016 Chinese Basketball Association match at the Changchun Gymnasium on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old power forward scored 48 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and had four assists and six steals to showcase his old form as a former NBA standout, as per Asia-basket.
Yi was the sixth overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2007 NBA Draft and played five seasons in the world's premier basketball league, averaging 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 272 games from 2007 to 2012.
Aside from Milwaukee, the four-time CBA champion and four-time CBA Finals MVP also suited up for the New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.
The game was close from the opening quarter until Yi took over the game in the final period, taking advantage of his huge 7-foot frame and his unstoppable inside scoring to steadily guide the Southern Tigers to the win.
Jilin head coach Jiang Xuyong admitted his team's struggles to defend Yi in the paint, saying that "the growing shortage of our inner players is becoming more serious, because of Yi," as reported by Xinhuanet.
"This is a big team for us, I am satisfied with our players' performances today, in general," Jiang added.
Another former NBA player, guard Will Bynum, supported Yi's monster performance with an almost triple-double game of 17 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Northeast Tigers were led by Nigerian-American point guard Josh-Emmanuel Akognon with 38 points while Puerto Rican-American center Peter Ramos had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the home squad.
