Kyle Anderson to wear ‘lucky’ No 1 jersey for China at Basketball World Cup
NBA star – who is a newly naturalised Chinese citizen – says his relatives ‘told me that 1 is a very special number in China’Minnesota Timberwolves forward, 29, made his debut this month as China continue their World Cup preparationsNBA (National Basketball Association)Nicolas AtkinPublished: 4:45pm, 17 Aug, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
Kyle Anderson has chosen to wear the “lucky” No 1 jersey for China at the Basketball World Cup – but only if his new fans will give him their blessing.
Having obtained his Chinese citizenship in July, the Minnesota Timberwolves forward made his debut earlier this month, donning the No 32 shirt for a mini-tournament in Italy as China continued their World Cup preparations. He also featured in a win over New Zealand in Hamburg, Germany.
NBA star Anderson – or Li Kaier, which he has taken for his Chinese name – wore the No 5 during his first season in Minnesota, but has now swapped with Anthony Edwards ahead of the new campaign, after both realised they preferred each other’s number.
With current No 1 Xiao Zeng out injured for China, Anderson – who wore the No 1 at the Memphis Grizzlies between 2018 and 2022 – has taken the opportunity to inherit his favourite shirt on his new national team.