China
Perhaps it might surprise you to learn that the game of basketball is vastly popular among the citizens of China. In fact, many NBA veterans will sign on to compete in China long after their NBA careers have ended.
CONFIRMED ✅
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) July 24, 2023
Kyle Anderson got his Chinese citizenship and he'll rep China at the #FIBAWC 🔥#WinForChina 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/BnYFPYFbdS
But competing for Team China requires more than simple interest. So how did Kyle Anderson end up competing for Team China? Well, it seems that Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson, whose Chinese name is Li Kaier, was eligible for Chinese citizenship through his maternal great-grandfather.
Congrats, Slowmo! 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/mWvdMlQmT5
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 26, 2023
Anderson is China’s first naturalized basketball player and his addition to the Chinese national team roster was both shocking and is viewed by many as a huge coup. Anderson is a nine-year NBA veteran who will return for his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. His 2022-23 NBA stat line looks like this:
64 GP | 46 GS | 28.4 MPG | 9.4 PPG | 41.0 3P% | 5.3 RPG | 4.9 APG | 1.1 SPG | 0.9 BPG
Team China will face Team Serbia in their opening game on August 26, 2023. Team China will face Team South Sudan on August 28, 2023, for their second game. And Team China will close out Round 1 by facing Team Puerto Rico on August 30, 2023, in their third game.