CBA MVP Ding Yanyuhang heads to US for training

World
Europe

Ding Yanyuhang, a two-time Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) MVP, departed Beijing for the United States on May 4 to rehab his injured left knee and train with some of the best coaches in the game, Tencent Sports reported.

'Stay in the NBA, don't come back!'

Ding Yanyuhang posted a photo of his plane ticket to the US on his Weibo account. /Weibo Screenshot

Before he left, Ding posted a photo of his plane ticket to the US with the caption, "What will happen this year?" The three muscle emojis next to the caption added a show of confidence to his fans at home.

Chinese fans flooded the comment section with mostly positive posts. "If you come back to play in the CBA again, I will never watch your game," one user said. "Though our Shandong Hi-Speed may stand no chance for a championship without you, I still wish you a spot in the NBA," "You got to work hard to stay in the NBA, don't come back!" other users added.

Ding has the ability to become an NBA player

Ding Yanyuhang, 2017-18 CBA MVP /VCG Photo

Ding played for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2017 Summer League in Orlando and delivered great performances. During a game against the Boston Celtics, fans around the court even chanted "MVP" for him. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle and team owner Mark Cuban also spoke highly of the 25-year-old small forward.

After the Summer League, Ding returned to the CBA to put together an MVP season. In the 2017-18 regular season, he averaged 26 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, retaining the MVP for the second time in a row.

Donnie Nelson, general manager and basketball operations director of the Mavericks, went to watch the CBA game between Ding's Shandong Hi-Speed Basketball Club and the Fubon Bayi Rocket Club on December 7, 2017. After the game, he reportedly promised Ding a contract in the future.

What awaits Ding in the US?

Can Ding deliver better performances than the 2017 NBA Summer League? /VCG Photo

According to Tencent Sports reporter Yuan Fang, Ding will first stay in Los Angeles to recover from his left-knee injury. After that, he plans to go to New York City to train with Chris Brickley, who is the private coach of many NBA superstars including Carmelo Anthony, Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant.

Meanwhile, Ding has hired an American team to contact multiple NBA teams including the Mavericks. There should be no problem for him to play in the 2018 NBA Summer League, but it will depend on his performance whether he gets a contract from an NBA team.