[TRC1991Participant]

We’ve discussed this topic a few times and I got curious so I went and did some searching and here’s what i got for you:

Yi Jianlian is listed as being born on October 27, 1987

-In 2004, Yi was listed as being born in 1984 in China’s Four Nation Tournament, although Chinese officials said that it was probably a typographical error.

– In 2006, Fran Blinebury of The Houston Chronicle reported that Yi told Shane Battier he was 24 in an exhibition game before the 2006 FIBA World Championship although the story was refuted by both Yi and Battier. 

– Also In 2006, a senior CBA official admitted that past youth squads had included players above the permitted age, and Yi’s longtime American teammate in China, Jason Dixon, said to Chad Ford that Yi was "21 or 22…It’s pretty common over [in China] to change ages".

– In 2007, a Chinese government registration site made public by hackers showed Yi’s date of birth as being in 1984, and in December 2008, a Chinese reporter discovered school registration forms that listed Yi as being born in 1984.

 

Aside from the accusation about Yi telling Battier he was 24 in 2006 (which would have made him born in either 1981 or 1982) all the facts are leaning towards Yi being born in 1984

 

What year do you think he was born? Oh, and big surprise… Yi has denied comment about his age

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I wondered about this also. I think he is likely older than he looks, asian people in general to me always look younger than their age.

[seniokasParticipant]

 That’s a pretty well known thing as well as Ersan Ilyasova being born in ’84 instead of ’87. The funny thing is that they changed their birth years exactly the same, from ’84 to ’87.

Nevertheless, I like Ersan as a player just GM’s must be carefull about giving him long contracts after a few years, the same applies for Yi of course. I’m still hoping that Jianlian will find his place and toughness inside himself , I was really high on him when he was drafted.

[TRC1991Participant]

Something tells me that Andris Biedrins is born before 1986 also

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I think Biedrins age is actually legit. If not, it is not too bad. As for Yi, I think he is indeed most likely born in 1984. It has so hard to believe the ages of some of these athletes, especially when in the past China has obviously had indiscretion with this in some other sports (gymnastics, possibly swimming and such). Still, Yi is not alone.

Here are a couple other ages I question (not to mention other people question as well):

Ersan Ilyasova: Supposedly same situation as Yi. Claims to be born in 1987, has been accused of being born in 1984. Link: http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=100703  

Bismack Biyombo: Born in August of 1992? Really? I mean, it just does not seem likely. He has a mans body, which does not help. But, the maturity, the voice. I know Kobe had a deep booming voice as a 17-year old and LeBron was a beast. Still, SO hard to believe this guys age. We all have questioned it, still do not know what to believe. Just have a feeling, he is older than he is listed. Came out of nowhere "found at 16"? Found a link that could go either way (unfortunately the site that shall not be named is a contributor, but they tell us nothing).

Link: http://www.pistonpowered.com/2011/04/how-old-is-bismack-biyombo-a-doctor-explains-how-accurately-the-wrist-test-could-determine-biyombos-age/

I tend to think Andris Biedrins and Serge Ibaka are legit (or near legit). Have no idea about Dikembe Mutombo or Yinka Dare (RIP) actual ages, just guessing they were both likely older than they were listed as being. Think the fact that Enes Kanter was born in Switzerland kind of makes me feel his age is legit as well.

I know a few months back someone posted that Wang Zhelin (listed as being born in 1994) might indeed be older. Seeing him up close, he looks like a kid. However, would not be incredibly surprised if that was true. He also said Zhou Qi could be older as well. Would love some proof, and really do not know how much it really matters (I mean, you expect these guys to have a good 10 years at the most, and that is being generous), just know it has been floated out there. 

Also, haha, Greg Oden looks old. Those jokes are even older (and lamer). One thing you sometimes need to watch are players being quite a bit older than there HS class. Think Mitch McGary got the benefit of that for a while. Not that Mitch can’t still be a factor for Michigan, just feel his being about a year and a half older than most was probably part of his shooting up the rankings. He was more than a year older than Andre Drummond, who was being held back until switching back to his original class.

It is kind of crazy that right now, the #1 players in the class of 2013, 2014 and 2015 as ranked by ESPN are all born in the same year: Jabari Parker (2013, March 15, 1995), Andrew Wiggins (2014. February 23, 1995. Honestly, do not see this as a big deal and expect him to re-classify to 2013 more than likely. Just a fact that he is a few weeks older than Jabari) and Karl Towns (2015. November 15, 1995. Again, not a huge deal. Still, a majority of players would be 1996 or 1997 guys. Have heard Mickey Mitchell is also a 1995 kid).

One case I remember really well of an "older" college freshman actually ended up working out really well for that person. Taj Gibson was 21 his freshman year at USC. Kid was a beast. He played three more years (his sophomore year with a 20 year old freshman named OJ Mayo) and entered the draft in 2009 going 26th. He was close to two years older than most 4 year senior, has not really seemed to matter. Guessing quite a few teams regret passing over Taj for younger players.

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

I’ve heard Mickey Mitchell is 18, which would make him older than me…and I’m 3 years ahead of him school-wise.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

He is born in 1995. I always try to find these guys ages out, just out of curiosity and all I can get on Mickey tends to be a late 1995 birthday (late being September-December). Karl Towns is the same, so not incredibly uncommon, just kind of a year ahead of a typical HS kid going into their sophomore year. Towns is actually one month older than a player many might consider to be near the top of 2014 with Andrew Wiggins departure, Jahlil Okafor. 

How much this effects either Karl Towns or Mickey Mitchell is yet to be known, both seem like very promising prospects. The thing is, it would be the equivalent of a guy like Julius Randle or one of the Harrison twins (born in late 1994) being in the class of 2014. Granted, all of these guys are only 3-4 months older than Andrew Wiggins. Showing promise is one thing, just hard to measure players on even ground when they are slightly ahead in the developmental cycle.

With a guy like Wiggins, who is already doing quite well against the highest level, it is one thing. It is another to see whether Karl Towns and Mickey Mitchell do the same next summer against players either near their age or even younger in the HS class of 2014. Jahlil Okafor is younger than Towns and might be younger than Mitchell. Tyus Jones, Emmanuel Mudiay, Dwayne Morgan, Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow are all born in 1996. Theo Pinson and Trey Lyles have the same birthday and are 10 days older than Karl Towns (might be younger than Mitchell).

If Towns and Mitchell come in next summer and does well against these guys, than it is a great sign. Just know that they are at or near the same developmental stage despite their HS Class. Age can really separate people and a year can make a major difference. Of course these two guys have a lot of time and are still quite young, just think people should know that their may be others in their class quite a bit younger that may indeed catch up in due time. As a guy like Quincey tends to point out, "guys who are ranked #1 as freshmen do not tend to be ranked #1 when they are seniors." Towns and Mitchell are definitely great prospects, but their certainly seem to be younger guys who might indeed be better in their same class who just need a little more time to get their due to age differential.

[bobbybParticipant]

Who cares how old he is? He is not longer a prospect, he played in the league already.  He had enough time in the NBA to prove himself and it didnt work.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

He had step back jumpers from the elbows. He had moves and was fluid. IDK if they would have worked on more talented defenders but he was a shooting guard. Someone convinced him that to succeed in the American game he had to bulk up, which is ussually true, but he lost all his agility and ball handling. Now he is a 4 that doesn’t really have a shot. I thought he had game could didnt have the confidence to show it off.

 

[Toronto16Participant]

 Who cares how old he is, he still sucks.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Question:

Why does age matter so much to people?

This is a great topic.

But im talking in terms of people just playing ball, like I’ve never cared if someone was older or younger than me I just play to play.

Another reason why I think age should not matter is because people start playing basketball at differents  ages, some guys get better some dont, I know 15 year old who will kill 30 year old men, and I know 30 year old men who would destroy 15 year old boys, yes physically there’s a difference, but skill wise and natural ability age does not matter.

[Tyreke JohnsonParticipant]

 @Fast and Furious, for these NBA players, it does matter. 3 years is a long time and a big difference. Kobe in 3 years from now wont be the same player he is now. Lebron 3 years from now will be a different player. Durant will be a better player 3 years from now. If Yi turns out to be younger, he still has time to develop and become a relevant player in this league versus if he was older it changes the "potential" card he was given. When determining age you got to know why certain guys are dominating their class ( because some guys are held back to give themselves a physical advantage to dominate ) Yi’s age matters because it can be a difference between him getting a contract or not. If a guy is 3 years older then what he says he is, as a GM or owner i would like to know because id rather sign a 27 year old for big money then a 30 year old because they can get progressively worse as they get older due to decline in athleticism and more wear and tear on the body that can cause injuries. Yi doesnt have a good history with injuries as it is and if it turns out he is in fact 3 years older then what he originally said, then not many teams will want to sign him.

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