Kyle Anderson, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA, will represent China at the FIBA World Cup.
The international basketball tournament starts on August 25 and runs until September 10. On Monday, the Chinese Basketball Association announced that Anderson had successfully obtained Chinese citizenship and will now represent the country at the tournament, Reuters reports.
Anderson’s great-grandfather is from the Chinese city of Shenzen, according to NBC Sports. He will play under his Chinese name Li Kaier.
In a video posted to his Weibo account, Anderson said he is “really proud and honored to wear the team China jersey.”
According to The South China Morning Post, many naturalized Chinese citizens are required to renounce their American passports. It is not clear if Anderson has taken this step.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. A big thank you to all our readers who supported our year-end giving campaign. You helped us not only reach our goal, you busted through it. Donations to Asian American Media Inc and AsAmNews are tax-deductible. It’s never too late to give.
Please also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.