China’s First Naturalized Basketball Player, Kyle Anderson, to Represent China at FIBA World Cup
US-born basketball player Kyle Anderson has obtained Chinese nationality and will represent China at the upcoming FIBA World Cup, according to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Anderson, who plays as a forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is China’s first naturalized basketball player.
The announcement was made by the CBA on Monday, who posted on social media platform Weibo, “Welcome Anderson! Li Kaier obtained Chinese nationality this morning and met with Yao Ming, chairman of the CBA,” alongside a photo of Anderson with NBA legend Yao Ming.
In a video posted on his official Weibo account, Anderson confirmed the news and expressed his excitement, saying, “Hello fans in China, this is Li Kaier, I am so happy to announce that I will be representing China in the World Cup. Really proud and honored to wear the Team China jersey.”
While it is unclear whether Anderson had to renounce his US passport in the process, China does not recognize dual nationality. However, China has previously acquired elite athletes with and without Chinese roots through naturalization. One notable example is US-born freestyle ski sensation Eileen Gu, who switched from Team USA to China in 2019. Gu’s mother is a first-generation Chinese immigrant, but it remains unknown whether she has renounced her US passport.
Anderson’s addition to the national team roster is considered a significant achievement. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game with the Timberwolves last season. The 2023 FIBA World Cup, which is joint-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, starts on August 25. China will face Serbia in their opening game on August 26.
The issue of dual nationality among star athletes in China remains controversial, and the Chinese government tends to tread carefully around questions regarding this topic. Other naturalized Chinese athletes include Canada-born heptathlete Nina Schultz and members of China’s men’s ice hockey and soccer teams.
China has been actively recruiting naturalized athletes to enhance its competitiveness in various sports, and Anderson’s representation of China in the basketball world cup demonstrates the nation’s ambition to strengthen its presence on the international stage.