Published : 2023-07-26
US-born NBA player Kyle Anderson of Chinese descent, whose Chinese name is Li Kaier (李凱爾), has obtained Chinese citizenship and will put on the men's basketball jersey to fight for China.
This all begins with his story of connection to his hometown and his search for his Chinese roots.
Kyle Anderson's great-grandfather was a Hakka from Longgang
Kyle Anderson was born in New York, USA in 1993, and back then he had no Chinese name.
However, he has always known he's of Chinese descent and heard many family stories from his mother and grandmother during his early years.
His great-grandfather is Li Chongxin (李崇新), a Hakka from Baoan (now part of Shenzhen) in Guangdong Province.
In the 1920s, Li Chongxin, compelled by life's circumstances, left his wife and son, and journeyed overseas with his younger brother to earn a living in Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Settled in a foreign country with no prospect of returning to his homeland, Li remarried there and had several children.
Without once ever returning his homeland, he passed away early in Jamaica, and his descendants there lost contact with the relatives in China.
In the 1970s, one of Li Chongxin's daughters, Miriam, moved to the United States, and she is Kyle Anderson's grandmother.
Kyle Anderson was a first-round draft pick
Although they had never set foot in China and didn't know much about the country, they never forgot that they carry Chinese blood and longed to find their faraway roots. This inborn sense of belonging was passed on to Kyle Anderson.
Anderson was exposed to basketball and received professional training from a young age, because his father was a amateur basketball coach, which led him to become a key player in his school team in high school days.
The 2.06-metre-tall player then played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for UCLA.
In 2014, he was drafted in the first round as the 30th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs, making his debut in the NBA as a professional player; he later transferred to the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves, making a name for himself.
Anderson's first visit to China was in 2012, and it was thanks to basketball.
At that time, he travelled to Shanghai to play games with his university team, accompanied by his mother, Suzanne.
Seeing China's development and feeling the friendliness of the Chinese people, Suzanne affirmed her desire to find her roots, which were supported by Kyle.
Anderson and his mother "returned home in 2018
After returning to the U.S., Suzanne had a DNA comparison done. She was also able to get in touch with her cousin in Jamaica, who happened to be the grandson of Li Chongxin's brother. And he also was looking for their relatives in China.
Lee Chongxin's brother lived out his life in Jamaica. In the 1960s, he used to send money back to his relatives in Shenzhen, so his descendants knew a little bit more about their homeland than Suzanne.
At the end of 2017, the cousin travelled across the seas to Shenzhen. With only a black-and-white photo in hand, he managed to find their roots in Xinmu New Village (新木新村), Longgang.
Upon hearing the news, Suzanne and Anderson were thrilled and decided to "return home" as soon as possible.
With the wishes of his grandmother, Anderson, accompanied by his mother and girlfriend, finally arrived in Xinmu New Village in August 2018.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, they were surrounded by warmly welcoming relatives, and the scene was filled with drums and firecrackers.
Anderson's Chinese name was included in the clan's genealogy
Kyle Anderson's cousin introduced each family member one by one. At this moment, several elders and Anderson's mother were so moved that they covered their faces and wept.
Anderson's Chinese name was given by his cousin, and the cousin also put the names of Suzanne and Kyle Anderson into the clan's genealogy.
"My mother spent a lot of time and energy trying to find our family in China. We were worried about whether our relatives in our hometown would accept us, but we received only warmth and enthusiasm." Kyle Anderson once recalled his trip back to his hometown in an interview.
He also said, "That journey to find my roots was extremely significant. It let me know where my roots are and how deep they run. Knowing that my roots are planted in China touched me deeply."
Because of his 1/8 Chinese heritage and his journey to find his roots, Kyle Anderson quickly gained attention among Chinese basketball fans.
Whether he could be naturalised as a Chinese citizen and represent the Chinese men's basketball team became a hot topic among fans. Not long after, the issue of naturalisation came into reality.
Kyle Anderson: Wearing the jersey of China isn't about money
The crucial element for a foreign player to become a Chinese citizen and wear the Chinese team jersey is the person's own will. Kyle Anderson has already made his intention clear, and it's not about the money.
And Anderson mentioned another important reason: his mother hoped that he can represent the Chinese men's basketball team, and he wanted to fulfil his mother's wish.
On 24 July 2023, thanks to the efforts of the Chinese Basketball Association and other parties, Kyle Anderson officially gained Chinese citizenship, becoming the first player to be naturalised for the men's basketball team.
The International Basketball Federation World Cup official promptly confirmed that Kyle Anderson would represent China in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
In response to the heated discussions among basketball fans from around the world on the Internet, Anderson replied: "All you need to know is that what I'm doing is right. Team China, let's give it our all. This matter is more important than basketball. For my family, it is a reunion after 100 years."
