Liu Yudong (; nickname: "War God ()"; b. 1970 in Putian,

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...

), is a retired Chinese professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

player who last played for the Fujian Xunxing club in the

Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier professional men's basketball league in China. The league is commonly known by fans as the CBA, and this acronym is even used in Chinese on a regular basis ...

(CBA). At 2.00 m (6'6 ") and 243 lbs. (110 kg), he played at the

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to centers. When on offense, they typically play with their ba ...

position. In 1990, he was chosen as one of China's 50 all-time greatest basketball players. He held the CBA record for most career points scored (8,387 points), until it was broken by Zhu Fangyu, on 1/1/2012. He was the CBA Regular Season MVP in 2002, and the CBA League MVP in 2002 and 2003, and is known as one of the greatest Chinese players of all-time.

Professional career

Liu spent his first eight CBA seasons with the Bayi Rockets (1995–2003), where he became the second best scorer in CBA history, with a scoring average of 27.9 points per game. He was reportedly offered a contract by the Denver Nuggets in 1998, but turned it down as he would not be able to play for the national team. After winning the CBA championship in all but one season – 2002, to a Yao Ming-led

Shanghai Sharks The Shanghai Sharks () are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai. It is best known outside China as the club that developed Yao Ming before he entered the National Basketball Association. With Yao on the team, the Sharks made t ...

team, Liu retired in 2003, because of a knee injury. He came back the next season, and was voted to the CBA All-Star Game. Liu retired again in 2005, due to his troublesome knees, and he became an assistant coach for the Rockets. In 2007, Liu came out of a two-year retirement to lead the Fujian Xinxing and retired for the last time in 2009 at the age of 39.

Statistics

CBA Statistics

Personal life and player profile

Liu is a senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army. He was also the flag bearer of the Chinese sports delegation at the opening ceremony of the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

and

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 ( Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from ...

. Liu is known for being one of the most lethal scorers in international basketball of all-time, with his signature mid-range jumper, often leading him to be referred as "中距离王 (Mid-range King)" by fans throughout China. Liu was also a very clutch player throughout his career, having many of his best games in the playoffs including a 53-point, 15-rebound performance against the

in game 4 of the 2001 CBA finals, clinching that year's championship. Liu was one of the greatest players that China has ever produced, and one of 3 Chinese players in the 1990s that was offered a contract by an NBA team. In an exhibition prior to the

1996 Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

, Liu scored 24 points and added 7 rebounds against

Team USA The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions. Olympic teams Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...

in an 81-118 loss. Liu was a pure scorer at 2.00m and 243 lbs, but a lack of conditioning later in his career cost him a string of injuries that derailed the twilight years of his career.

Sources

*Yao Ming: The Road to the NBA by C.F. Xiao, translated by Philip Robyn, Page 139

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Yudong 1970 births Living people Bayi Rockets players Fujian Sturgeons players People from Putian Power forwards (basketball) Basketball players from Fujian Chinese men's basketball players Olympic basketball players of China Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Asian Games medalists in basketball Asian Games gold medalists for China Asian Games silver medalists for China Basketball players at the 1994 Asian Games Basketball players at the 1998 Asian Games Basketball players at the 2002 Asian Games Medalists at the 1994 Asian Games Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games 2002 FIBA World Championship players 1994 FIBA World Championship players