NBA player Anderson now a Chinese citizen NBA

American-born forward Kyle Anderson, who is one-eighth Chinese, has completed a naturalization procedure and acquired Chinese citizenship to be eligible to play for his adopted country on the international stage.

The Chinese Basketball Association confirmed it on its official Weibo account Monday, about 24 hours after Anderson, now known as Li Kaier in China, landed in Shanghai to finalize the naturalization process.

(From L) CBA President Yao Ming, Suzanne and Kyle Anderson pose for a picture in this undated photo. SD-Agencies

"With the efforts and supports from all parties involved, Li Kaier has obtained his Chinese citizenship and has met CBA President Yao Ming," the association said in the statement.

According to media reports, Anderson is expected to fly to Europe to join Team China that is preparing for its FIBA World Cup campaign playing warm-up games against European teams. 

Anderson pays respect to his family ancestors during his visit to Xinmu New Village in Longgang back in 2018. File photos

Anderson is expected to make his Chinese national debut at a warm-up tournament for the World Cup, the "International Solidarity Cup" in August in Shenzhen, the home city of his mother's Chinese family.

Anderson and his mother Suzanne (2nd R) browse the family-tree booklet in Longgang in 2018.

Anderson's grandmother on his maternal side had a Chinese father. This makes him a one-eighth Chinese.

In 2018, Anderson and his mother Suzanne visited Xinmu New Village in Shenzhen to seek out his mother's family roots. Their long-lost Chinese relatives welcomed them with a firecracker show, traditional cultural experiences and a huge banquet.

Anderson is treated to a banquet during his visit with his family members to Longgang District to seek the Chinese family history of his maternal grandmother.

"Just being able to go back generations and find relatives from the other side of the world was just so breathtaking," he told CloseUp360, a specialized media platform and production company focused on NBA players and insiders, and their impact off the court at the time.

Anderson poses for a photo with a relative in Longgang District while his mother (L) looks on during their 2018 visit.

"I still don’t have the words to describe what we felt there and how nice the people were, meeting them. It was awesome," he said.

The father of Anderson’s grandmother was a native of Longgang District and moved to Jamaica in around the 1920s.

Anderson signs on basketballs for kids in Xinmu New Village in Longgang District in 2018.

Anderson’s cousin Li Tianping, who is 75 year old, was very happy when he learned that Li Kaier will play for Chinese national team. It was a great honor for the whole family. 

Born in New Jersey and drafted as a first-round pick by the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, Kyle Anderson averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 69 games in the 2022-23 season for Minnesota Timberwolves as a playmaking forward in his ninth NBA season.

Suzanne (C) becomes emotional after meeting her Chinese relatives in Longgang with her son Anderson in 2018.

Since 2014, Suzanne had been looking for her Chinese family. She quit her job in Canada to focus on tracking down her family history. She joined activities held by local Hakka groups in Canada and also turned to professional institutions for help.

A cousin of Suzanne’s identified as Donald, who does business in China, helped her find her grandfather’s brother, who went to Jamaica for the gold rush along with Suzanne’s grandfather, Li Chongxin.

Li Chongxin, born in 1877, left China when he was a middle-aged man, and married again in Jamaica, and Suzanne’s mother was one of his children.