The Los Angeles Lakers raised some eyebrows across the league when they announced the signing of Yi Jianlian, the Chinese star who excelled during this summer’s Olympics. Yi was drafted into the NBA in 2007 by the Milwaukee Bucks but only lasted five disappointing seasons before heading back to the Chinese Basketball Association.
However, it appears that the now-28-year-old Yi has not only improved his skills, but also put on a solid amount of muscle, which is crucial because a lack of physical strength plagued him during his previous stint in the NBA. One person who believes that Yi will make an impact in his second stint in the NBA is former Lakers Coach Del Harris, who knows Yi from the time he spent coaching the Chinese National team.