Yi Jianlian, I can't say goodbye this night
On the evening of December 29, during the halftime of the Guangdong men's basketball team and the Guangsha men's basketball team, when his friend Wilber Pan encouraged the fans to shout Yi Jianlian's "comeback" with him, the response was full of laughter and Yi Jianlian's wry smile. We all know that despite our reluctance, it is impossible for the eldest brother to put on the battle again.
Just like a few days ago, when Du Feng joked "UAE, do you want to fight again", Yi Jianlian just walked forward and waved his hand with one arm to say "goodbye".
But in this summer, it is not easy for Yi Jianlian to say "goodbye" to his career. "Retiring is not an easy decision, and I have been going back and forth throughout the process, whether to persist or to meet new beginnings and new challenges, there will be some contradictions between the two. Half a month ago, Yi Jianlian said from the bottom of his heart. He still loves basketball, still wants to carry the Guangdong men's basketball team, and is also very reluctant to accept the dismal ending of last season's playoffs (defeated by the Guangsha team in the quarterfinals).
But for so many years, Yi Jianlian has been a top player, and he has become a leading local figure in the middle and late stages of his career. When the Achilles tendon ruptures and the state is no longer what it used to be, continuing to persist can only make Yi Jianlian lack the fulcrum and motivation. As a result, the No. 9 rookie chose "will miss it very much, and will continue to move forward to meet the new chapter." ”
This night 21 years ago was the moment for Yi Jianlian to "welcome a new chapter". That night, 15-year-old Yi Jianlian stepped on the CBA court for the first time, coming off the bench for nine minutes against Jilin at home, and the young boy began his long and legendary basketball career. Although he went to the NBA for many years during this period, this did not affect Yi Jianlian's contribution to the Guangdong men's basketball team and the city of Dongguan.
7 championships, 5 regular season MVPs, 3 finals MVPs, the second Mr. 10,000 points in CBA history, and the CBA all-time total rebounding king...... Countless honors and records have recorded Yi Jianlian's great dedication to the Guangdong team and witnessed Yi Jianlian's transformation from "UAE" to "big brother". But regardless of the passage of time, the "Guangdong" on the chest has always been fresh. As the first champion of the CBA, the Guangdong men's basketball team has produced an endless stream of stars, but if you want to say who can best represent this team, it is undoubtedly Yi Jianlian.
In the past ten years, there have been many teams that hope to introduce Yi Jianlian, from Xinjiang team, Zhejiang team, Beijing team to other teams, they have offered very high prices in the hope that Yi Jianlian will join, and some teams have even offered contracts much higher than those of the Guangdong team to try to attract Yi Jianlian, but they all failed. Yi Jianlian said, "If I leave the Guangdong team one day, it will be my retirement." This promise, Yi Jianlian truthfully fulfilled.
21 years have passed like a white horse, and Yi Jianlian, who didn't like to chat very much back then, has become more and more talkative. At the jersey retirement ceremony, he joked with his old friends at the personal retirement ceremony in September, showing his "Yi's humor". In the past few months after retiring, Yi Jianlian, who has slowed down, has become more relaxed and free. But there is still one thing that has not changed, and that is remembering the details of the past. He remembered Daniel Zhang Jun's teaching to him in the national youth team, Li Chunjiang let him play in the first game, he remembered living in the same house with Li Qun, he remembered that Du Feng taught him some techniques back then, and he remembered Chen Jianghua, Sun Yue, Zhou Peng and other teammates......
In Yi Jianlian's memories and narrations, we see more of his lesser-known side, and the memories and thoughts of the past are also opened again. The more so, the more reluctant we are to let go of the legend of this "YI people YI city", and we can't let go of the benchmark of this "YI people YI city".
"I can't bear to look at you the most, and turn your back to me. If you want to go for a moment, please don't have a lot of nostalgia. The ups and downs of the waves are like a crowd, how can there be no thoughts? You and I are so sad that we can't say goodbye. When Yi Jianlian choked up and thanked a group of people and fans, it was the complete end of Yi Jianlian's career and the eternal end of countless people's youth.
The No. 9 jersey hung high, and Yi Jianlian left the field with a smile. Many of us have not witnessed the beginning of Yi Jianlian's career, but we are fortunate to witness the highlights of his peak and the end of his career. We don't say goodbye this night, because we will. Over the years, every scene of Yi Jianlian has long been immersed in the hearts of everyone you and me.