Yi Jianlian , the last Chinese - born player in the NBA , leaves the Dallas Mavericks . He has signed a one - year contract with China 's Guangdong Tigers . NBA star Dwayne Wade told CNN he still trails soccer as the world 's favorite sport . Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets has boosted the NBA 's Asian profile .
Yi Jianlian , the last Chinese-born player in the NBA , leaves the Dallas Mavericks . Yi has signed a one-year contract with China 's Guangdong Tigers . NBA star Dwayne Wade told CNN basketball still trails soccer as the world 's favorite sport . Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets has boosted the NBA 's Asian profile .