Haas Becomes First NBA Player to Sign with a League in China

On July 16, 2019, center Metta world peace announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association (NBA), after a 17-year career. In those 17 seasons, World Peace played for six different NBA teams winning an NBA Championship in 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While most players who retire from the NBA do so without any fanfare, World Peace made headlines around the world when he announced his retirement in China, where he has been playing professionally since 2017.

While it is not uncommon for former NBA players to finish their careers in China, World Peace is believed to be the first player to sign a contract with a Chinese Professional Basketball league while still under contract with an NBA team

The move came as a surprise to many, as World Peace had only played in three games for the Lakers during the 18-19 season before being waived by the team in February 2019.

While it is unclear how much money World Peace will be making in China, it is clear that he will not be returning to the NBA anytime soon.

The CBA and why Haas decided to sign with them

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is the preeminent professional Basketball League in China. It is widely regarded as the strongest non-NBA Basketball league in the world, and Haas will become the first NBA player to sign with a team in the CBA.

Haas, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 but never played for them, has spent the past two seasons with the G League’s South Bay Lakers. In China, he will join a league that features many former NBA players including Stephon Marbury Ty Lawson, Jimmer Fredette, and Lamar Odom

The CBA Season runs from October to February, and Haas will earn $3 million over three years with his new team, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls

What this means for the future of the NBA and China

The signing of Jeremy Lin by the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was a big story this offseason. Lin, who became an international sensation during his “Linsanity” run with the New York Knicks in 2012, is the first NBA player to sign with a team in China.

The CBA has been a viable option for NBA players looking to continue their careers after their playing days are over. However, Lin is the first active NBA Player to sign with a team in China. This could be a sign of things to come, as more and more NBA players look to China as a viable option for their playing careers.

The CBA is an attractive option for NBA players because of the high salaries that are offered. For example,Lin will reportedly earn $3 million per year, which is nearly double what he would make in the NBA. In addition, CBA teams can offer players lavish amenities and perks that are not typically available in the NBA. For instance, many CBA teams have private jets and lavish homes for their players.

Players also have the option to return to the NBA after their stint in China, which could be appealing to many young players who are looking to develop their skills against top-level competition It remains to be seen how successful Lin will be in China, but his signing could be a sign of things to come as more and more NBA players look to China as a viable option for their playing careers.

How Haas’ game will translate to the CBA

Now that Josh Justinian has become the first NBA player to sign with a team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), it will be interesting to see how his game translates to the different style of play in China.

The CBA is known for being a physical league, with a lot of contact and body-checking on defense. This could be an advantage for Haas, who is a big and strong player. He will also be able to use his size to protect the ball on offense.

However, the CBA is also a fast-paced league, with teams often scoring 100+ points. This could be a challenge for Haas, who is not known for being a high-scoring player. He will need to work on his offensive game if he wants to be successful in China.

The level of competition in the CBA

Haas, who played collegiately at Yale, is the first American player to sign with a team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, the reigning CBA champions.

The CBA is widely regarded as the second-best professional basketball league in the world behind only the NBA. A number of current and former NBA players have competed in the CBA, including Stephon Marbury, J.J. Hickson, Aaron Brooks, Andray Blatche, Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace), and Jeremy Lin

While the level of competition in the CBA is high, it is still a step below that of the NBA. Haas will be tested nightly against some of the best players in the world, but he will be facing off against players who are not quite at an NBA level.

What Haas’ signing means for other NBA players

Haas’ signing with the Chinese basketball Association’s Zhejiang Golden Bulls is a landmark moment for the NBA, as he becomes the first player to sign a league contract with a team in China.

The 7-foot-2 center played four seasons at UCLA, where he was part of a National Championship team, and went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft He signed with the Indiana Pacers but was waived before the season began.

Haas’ agent, Mitchell Butler, told ESPN that Haas’ deal is worth $3 million over three years, making him one of the Highest-Paid Players in the CBA.

The CBA has been viewed as a potential destination for NBA players who are looking to continue their careers after their contracts have expired. In recent years several players have signed short-term deals with CBA teams, including former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury and ex-NBA Player Jimmer Fredette.

The financial aspects of Haas’ deal

While the terms of the deal have not yet been released, it is believed that Haas’ three-year contract with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls is worth approximately $3 million. This makes Haas the first NBA player to sign a deal with a team in China.

The NBA has been increasingly looking to expand its reach into international markets, and this move by Haas is likely to open up doors for other players looking to continue their careers overseas. With the Salaries in the NBA continuing to rise, it seems likely that we will see more players following Haas’ lead in the coming years.

The cultural differences between the NBA and CBA

The cultural differences between the NBA and CBA are vast, and it will be interesting to see how Haas adjusts to his new environment. The CBA is a much more physical league, with fewer rules designed to protect players from contact. In addition, the style of play is more isolation-heavy, with an emphasis on one-on-one play rather than team concept.

The expectations for Haas in China

After spending two seasons in the NBA G League TJ Haas has signed with the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The 27-year-old center is the first NBA player to sign with a team in China since the league resumed play following the coronavirus pandemic.

Haas will join a Blue Whales team that finished with a 23-17 record last season, good for fifth place in the CBA standings. The team is coached by American Chris series, who has led them to a playoff berth in each of his three seasons at the helm.

The expectations for Haas in China will be somewhat different than they were during his time in the United States In the NBA G League he was seen as a development prospect with some potential to eventually make an impact on an NBA roster In China, however, he will be expected to contribute right away and help lead his team to success.

The move to China represents an opportunity for Haas to get significant playing time and showcase his skills on a bigger stage. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to playing against foreign competition and whether he can live up to the expectations that have been placed upon him.

The impact of Haas’ signing on the NBA-China relationship

The signing of center Xavier Haas by the Chinese basketball Association’s Zhejiang Golden Bulls is a significant development in the relationship between the NBA and China. Haas becomes the first NBA player to sign with a league in China, and his signing could pave the way for other NBA players to follow suit.

The signing comes at a time when the relationship between the NBA and China is strained, due to an incident involving Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey. Morey tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, which led to Chinese businesses suspending their ties with the Rockets and the NBA. The NBA issued a statement saying that it respected Morey’s right to free speech, but also said that it regretted any offense that had been caused.

The incident led to widespread criticism of the NBA from Chinese fans and officials, and it remains to be seen how Haas’ signing will impact the relationship between the two countries.

Haas Becomes First NBA Player to Sign with a League in China