Sun Yue of the Beijing Royal Fighters retires, October 16, 2021. /CFP
Former Chinese national team guard Sun Yue has retired from professional basketball, announced the CBA's Beijing Royal Fighters, the team he played for in the last two seasons, in a statement on Sina Weibo on Saturday.
"I'm happy you got a chance to experience the journey you experienced in basketball. You got a chance to play with and learn from one of the best ever Kobe. Won a championship in the NBA and in the CBA with me. I was excited for your return to the CBA. You got another chance to prove yourself after not being able to play for two years. People recognize your talent, but I saw your hard-work led the team to the Playoffs and became an All-Star. Thank you for your play over the years. You'll be missed on the court," wrote Stephon Marbury, head coach of the team.
When Sun joined the Royal Fighters in 2019, he was already 33 years old and at the late stage of his career, not to mention that he hadn't played professionally for almost 1,000 days before that. However, he was still able to make key contributions to the team and impressed the fans.
Sun Yue (L) of the Beijing Royal Fighters blocks a shot by Dallas Moore of the Guangzhou Loong Lions in the game in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 4, 2021. /CFP
Sun averaged 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks in the 2019-20 season, making it back to the CBA All-Star game and helping the Royal Fighters reach the playoffs for the first time. In the first-round game against the Jilin Northeast Tigers, Sun drained five triples and froze the opponents' ace Jiang Yuxing in the second half, leading the Royal Fighters to the next round.
Sun was held back by injuries in the 2020-21 season but he still delivered 50 blocks, which matched his best record of career.
If we turned the clock backward, Sun in his prime was an explosive elite defender in the guard position. Having been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 40th pick in 2007 summer, he was in the Chinese national team facing Team USA, the "Redeem Team," at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Sun Yue (#9) of China tried to challenge Kobe Bryant (#10) of USA in the men's basketball game at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. /CFP
Chinese basketball commentator Zhang Weiping revealed that before that game, multiple American players made a bet on who could dunk on 2.06-meter-tall Sun. The winner could get $500,000. Carmelo Anthony tried on the court and he was denied. Dwight Howard challenged Sun too and he was blocked as well, with a pin on the glass.
Sun joined the Lakers in August 2008 and won the NBA Championship as a member of the purple and gold.
Sun is also an ambassador of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in 2020 to provide support to children at Houshan Primary School in Heshan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. He donated 250,000 pairs of nitrile rubber gloves to Wuhan after COVID-19 hit and joined the Royal Fighters to make more donations.
After a glorious career, 35-year-old Sun's days on the professional court are over.