 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Yi akasarudza Dan Fegan semumiriri wake kuti amumiririre muNBA draft uye akaenda kuLos Angeles kunopinda pre-NBA draft camps. Pamberi pechirongwa, Yi akafanotaurwa nevakawanda kuti aizosarudzwa chero kupi zvako kubva pachitatu kusvika pagumi nembiri. Musi wa 28 Chikumi 2007, Yi akasarudzwa neMilwaukee Bucks aine chitanhatu chepamusoro-soro mu2007 NBA draft, kunyangwe Fegan akayambira Milwaukee Bucks kuti vasatora Yi uye vasingavatenderi kuti vave chimwe chezvikwata zvakokwa kuYis pre-draft private workouts muLos Angeles. Fegan akanga asingadi kuti Milwaukee isarudze Yi nokuti guta reMilwaukee rakanga risina vanhu vakawanda vokuAsia vokuAmerica. Zvisinei, maneja mukuru weMilwaukee Larry Harris akati vakanga vangotora mutambi akanakisisa wavaiva naye. Yi naSun Yue pamwe chete vakaratidza nguva yekutanga munhoroondo yeNBA draft apo vatambi vaviri vakazvarwa kuChina vakasarudzwa mudhirowa rimwe chete, raive basa raisazodzokororwa zvakare kusvika 2016.. 