Sun Yue (basketball)

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Sun Yue
孙悦

| image = Sun Yue with the Beijing Aoshen Olympians.jpg

| caption = Sun with the Beijing Olympians in 2008

| position = Shooting guard / small forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 215

| league =

| team =

| number = 9

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|11|06|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cangzhou, Hebei, China

| high_school =

| college =

| draft_year = 2007

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 40

| draft_team = Los Angeles Lakers

| career_start = 2002

| career_end = 2021

| years1 = 2002–2008

| team1 = Beijing Olympians

| years2 = {{NBA Year|2008|full=y}}

| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers

| years3 = 2008–2009

| team3 = → Los Angeles D-Fenders

| years4 = 2009–2013

| team4 = Beijing Olympians

| years5 = 2013–2017

| team5 = Beijing Ducks

| highlights =

NBA champion (2009)
2× CBA champion (2014, 2015)
2× ABA All Star-Game (2006, 2007)

| bbr = yuesu01

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's basketball}}

{{Medal|Country | {{bk|CHN}} }}

| team6 = Beijing Royal Fighters

| years6 = 2019–2021

}}

Sun Yue ({{lang-zh|t=孫悅|s=孙悦|p=Sūn Yuè}} {{IPAc-cmn|s|un|1|-|yu|e|4}}; born November 6, 1985) is a Chinese former professional basketball player. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, making him one of two players born in China to win an NBA championship, the other being Mongolian-Chinese center Mengke Bateer, who won the 2003 NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs.{{Cite web |title=List of NBA champions born in China |url=https://stathead.com/basketball/player-season-finder.cgi?request=1&match=player_season_combined&order_by=name_display_csk&team_success=is_lg_champ&pob=CHN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109010045/https://stathead.com/tiny/BDv0N |archive-date=November 9, 2024 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=Stathead |language=en-US}}

Professional career

= Beijing Olympians (2002–2008) =

Sun Yue signed his first professional contract with Chinese Basketball Association side Beijing Olympians in 2002 at the age of 17. In 2004, Sun was selected to the Chinese national under-20 team, but when Beijing refused to release him to play, the team was banned from playing in the Chinese Basketball Association. After touring in Taiwan, the team moved to play in the American Basketball Association. In Sun's first season in the American Basketball Association, he scored 9.5 points per game and seven rebounds per game with 6.7 assists per game. Sun also had his first triple-double of his career with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists{{cite web|title=Yue Sun 2007 Draft Profile|url=http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/YueSun.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105143909/http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/YueSun.html|archive-date=November 5, 2012|access-date=2009-02-11|work=NBA.com}} and was named to the All-ABA second team. In the following season, Sun improved his numbers, making the All-ABA first team with 13.5 points per game and six rebounds per game with 10.5 assists per game.

= Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2009) =

After originally entering the 2006 NBA draft but subsequently withdrawing, Sun decided to enter the 2007 NBA draft and was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 40th overall pick.{{cite news|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/sports/215544.htm|title=Yi, Sun Picked in NBA Draft|date=June 29, 2007|publisher=china.org.cn|access-date=2009-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217101417/http://china.org.cn/english/sports/215544.htm|archive-date=February 17, 2011|url-status=live}} With Sun being drafted alongside Yi Jianlian that year, it marked the first time in NBA draft history that two China-born players were drafted in the same year. That feat would not be repeated until 2016. It would also be the first time in modern NBA history that a Chinese basketball player would be drafted outside of the CBA. However, Sun stayed with the Beijing Olympians for another year before signing with Los Angeles in August 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-09-sp-lakers9-story.html|title=Lakers agree to terms with guard Sun Yue, 2007 second-round pick|last=Hine|first=Chris|date=August 9, 2008|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=2009-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001082904/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/09/sports/sp-lakers9|archive-date=October 1, 2012|url-status=live}}

Only a few days after his arrival in the United States, Sun suffered from a bout with mononucleosis and had to be hospitalized.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-26-sp-lakers26-story.html|title=Lakers rookie Sue Yue has mononucleosis|last=Bresnahan|first=Mike|date=September 26, 2008|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=2009-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504113519/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/26/sports/sp-lakers26|archive-date=May 4, 2011|url-status=live}} After recovering from his illness, Sun finally made his debut on 7 December 2008 against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring four points in five minutes of play.[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1201158-los-angeles-lakers-where-are-they-now-catching-up-with-sun-yue Los Angeles Lakers Where Are They Now?: Catching Up with Sun Yue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203042326/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1201158-los-angeles-lakers-where-are-they-now-catching-up-with-sun-yue |date=December 3, 2019 }}. Bleacher Report. May 29, 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/135236/sun-makes-nba-debut-for-lakers|title=Chinese star Sun Yue makes NBA debut for Lakers|date=December 8, 2008|work=Bangkok Post|access-date=2009-02-12}}

Sun played in a total of ten regular season games and averaged 2.8 minutes and 0.6 points per game before being assigned to the Lakers' D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/03/lakers-send-sun.html|title=Lakers send Sun Yue to D-League|last=Turner|first=Broderick|date=March 6, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2009-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310120532/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/03/lakers-send-sun.html|archive-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=live}} He played six games with the team, averaging 0.7 points and 0.2 assists per game.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=sun_yue |title=NBA Development League: Sun Yue Playerfile |work=Nba.com |date=1985-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311010407/http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=sun_yue |archive-date=March 11, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} Sun then suffered a left ankle sprain during practice with the D-Fenders and missed the remaining D-League games.{{cite web |url=http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/25/sun-goes-down/13937/ |title=Sun goes down - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register |access-date=2009-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712042523/http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/25/sun-goes-down/13937/ |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}

Sun eventually recovered and traveled with the Lakers as a member of their playoff roster, but he was not activated. Since he was a member of the team when the Lakers ultimately won their championship, he did receive a ring and was crowned as an NBA champion. He is the first ethnic Chinese player to win an NBA championship. Following the death of Kobe Bryant in 2020, Sun posted a tribute to Bryant on his Weibo account, writing: "After I came to the Lakers, I was lucky to be your teammate. This is the dream of many people."{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3047737/kobe-bryant-chinas-tributes-led-ex-lakers-teammates|title=Kobe Bryant: China's tributes led by ex-Lakers teammates as China mourns NBA star|work=South China Morning Post|date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127181928/https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3047737/kobe-bryant-chinas-tributes-led-ex-lakers-teammates|archive-date=January 27, 2020|url-status=live}}

Sun was waived by Los Angeles on 31 July 2009.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

= Return to the Olympians (2009–2013) =

Sun joined the New York Knicks, but was waived on 7 October 2009, before the next season started, due to a stress fracture in his knee.{{cite web |author=Alan Hahn |url=http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the-knicks-fix-1.812055/yue-pruitt-among-four-waived-by-knicks-1.1507645 |title=Yue, Pruitt among four waived by Knicks |publisher=Newsday.com |date=2009-10-07 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011030830/http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the-knicks-fix-1.812055/yue-pruitt-among-four-waived-by-knicks-1.1507645 |archive-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=live }} He did not play for two seasons until returning to the CBA in the 2013–14 season, where he yet again played for the Beijing Olympians.

= Beijing Ducks (2013–2017) =

After playing several more seasons with the Beijing Olympians (remaining with the club until its eventual disbanding in 2013), Sun then signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2013. He played a vital role in helping Beijing win their second CBA championship title during the 2013–14 season. Not only that, but he also provided a useful role in helping Beijing repeat as champions a year later.

= Beijing Royal Fighters (2019–2021) =

Sun joined the Beijing Royal Fighters in 2019. In October 2021, he retired at age 35.[https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3152601/nba-champion-sun-yue-retires-eve-chinese-basketball-season NBA champion Sun Yue retires on eve of Chinese basketball season] Jonathan White (South China Morning Post), 16 October 2021. Accessed 28 October 2021.

National team career

Sun competed in the NBA Summer League with the Chinese national basketball team in the summer of 2007. This was seen as a chance for the Chinese national team to gain further experience against international competition in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which Sun would also compete in. He also participated in the 2007 Stanković Continental Champions' Cup and played a vital role in the wins against Venezuela and New Zealand. Sun earned a silver medal in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship after China finished as runners-up in the tournament. He earned a gold medal in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship as his side won against Jordan.{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/fibaEven/fibaAsiaCham/p/newsid/49670/arti.html |title=FIBA ASIA - China book place in London in front of record TV audience |publisher=Fiba.com |access-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207003750/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/fibaEven/fibaAsiaCham/p/newsid/49670/arti.html |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://wuhan2011.fibaasia.net/TournamentNewsDetails.aspx?id=1394 |title=26th FIBA Asia Championship : News Details |publisher=Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108031949/http://wuhan2011.fibaasia.net/TournamentNewsDetails.aspx?id=1394 |archive-date=November 8, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://wuhan2011.fibaasia.net/Player_Accumalated_Statistics.aspx?id=54048 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722013219/http://wuhan2011.fibaasia.net/Player_Accumalated_Statistics.aspx?id=54048 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-22 |title=26th FIBA Asia Championship - Wuhan, China |publisher=Wuhan2011.fibaasia.net }}

Personal life

According to Chinese media Baidu Sports, Sun presented his NBA championship ring to his girlfriend Chen Lu when he proposed. According to the Chinese model, Sun "sees the ring as his highest honour and most prized possession".{{cite web|title=一生荣耀！孙悦用湖人总冠军戒指求婚成功如今情人节送冠军项链 - 百度体育|url=https://tiyu.baidu.com/news/detail/d7d64f4a510411ade5bb78c6aed88cda|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207003750/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/fibaEven/fibaAsiaCham/p/newsid/49670/arti.html|archive-date=December 7, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011|publisher=Fiba.com}}

Legacy

Sun is one of only three players to become a champion of both the NBA and the CBA; the other players to accomplish such a feat are Mengke Bateer and Eric Moreland.