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The NBA began broadcasting in , Beyer where an estimated 300 million people play represents , in 1987, but China didn’t have a two dozen pro players professional league until 1995. Foreign play- in China. ers weren’t allowed until an opening season that saw just three dunks convinced team owners they needed to recruit better tal- ent abroad. Cyril White, a shooting guard at Lutheran University in the early Nineties was one of the first American players to make the jump. “The living conditions in China were not really up to par,” he says. “The beds were rock hard, and the toilets in most cities were really just a hole in the ground.” That same year, a 10-year-old Beyer traveled with his parents from their home in Wisconsin to an orphanage in China, where they adopted a boy and a girl. After graduating from high school in 2004, Beyer intended to major in Chinese at college. “But that summer I thought, ‘Why not learn it in China?’ ” he says. He moved to Xi’an, in the northwest part of the country, took courses during the day, and partied a lot at night. “I loved it here from day one,” he says. “And that never changed.” When he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin two years later, he could speak and write Chinese fluently. During Beyer’s junior year, the Milwau- kee Bucks drafted — thought to be the second coming of — with the sixth pick in the 2007 draft. “I knew Yi would need a translator,” Beyer says. “So I pestered the team every day with cold calls and emails offering my services, and they eventually hired me.” The Bucks traded Yi to the Nets a year later, but Beyer saw a bigger opportunity in managing American players in China. “They perform well on the court,” he says. “But nobody here was The NBA’s China really helping them adjust off the court.” The needs of his players are often as basic as finding food. “The first time a player sees Connection cow intestine or a chopped chicken head on a plate,” Beyer says, “it’s always a shock.” How a 29-year-old sports agent lures top American talent To get his license in 2011, Beyer passed to the Chinese Basketball Association. by BEN SIN an eight-hour exam, conducted in Chinese, on the rules and regulations that govern DAY BEFORE THE NBA SEASON prospect of moving 7,000 miles across the professional sports in China — the only non- tipped off in October, the Boston globe unnerved the 32-year-old native speaker ever to do so. That same year, A Celtics cut their backup point native. “Don’t worry,” Brown told him. “I the NBA season was suspended as players guard, , to free up salary space. know a guy.” and owners renegotiated the collective bar- The previous season, Bynum had averaged The guy in China is a lanky 29-year-old gaining agreement. “The lockout was a big a respectable nine points and four assists Wisconsin native named Matt Beyer. As game changer,” Beyer says. “That was when for the Pistons, and it seemed likely China’s only licensed Western sports agent, I saw all these American guys were willing that he’d land another gig coming off the Beyer holds the keys to an increasingly lu- to come to China.” bench in the NBA. But his agent, Reggie crative revolving door between the NBA The CBA’s profile has only continued to Brown, had another idea: China. “Their and the CBA. Stateside players unable to grow. One of the biggest flameouts in NBA season is only three months,” Brown says make the pros, or fighting for a last gasp history, , is now a legend in of the Chinese Basketball Association’s 32- in the twilight of their careers, rely on him Beijing, where he’s won two championships game schedule. “And the pay is comparable to arrange every aspect of their transition for the Ducks, headlined a biographical mu- to what he’d get here.” Bynum wasn’t con- to China — from negotiating contracts to sical, and had a bronze statue built in his vinced. “It was an opportunity for me to arranging visits for family and friends. “We honor. This past season, Metta World Peace play the game I love,” Bynum says, but the really provide a full service,” Beyer says. was a Sichuan Blue Whale, and Delonte

MEN’S JOURNAL 1 APRIL 2015 photographs by PALANI MOHAN FROM LEFT: JOE MURPHY/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES; BARRY GOSSAGE/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES; ISSAC BALDIZON/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES his early childhood in the Democratic Re Democratic the in childhood early his Mudiay,for but he Beyer, says spent who scenario profitable avery is That China. in employment offavor well-paid in college skip to prospects “one-and-done” for other door the open could and draft NBA coming me.” contacted U.S. the in people his “So explains. Beyer NCAA,” the than rather tions op professional explore to he wanted decided “Emmanuel Tigers. Southern Guangdong the with contract a$1.2 million signing before University Methodist Southern to committed initially Dallas, from guard point 19-year-old athletic Mudiay,tory. a freakishly Emmanuel his in transplants American touted heavily says. Beyer lucrative,” “It’s pretty a million. more than make names biggest the $500,000; about is players for pay non-Chinese base The clients. for his he negotiates salaries the of 5percent He gets of them. athird over represents two), only Beyer allowed is team (each China in playing Americans 60 the Of China.” in interested are more players and more “Now says. players,” Brown American wanted always has “China of China. way by league the to back apath charted have Brooks, Aaron guard, point backup Bulls’ Chicago the and Green, Gerald man, sixth Suns’ Phoenix the like players, NBA current of increasing an time, same the At Sharks. up for the West suited Mudiay is expected to be a top pick in the the pick atop in be to expected is Mudiay most one of the signed Beyer season, This Beyer. through passes action Much of that Nuggets. Denver the with re-signing before play-offs the to squad his led He rebounds. 22 grabbed and points 43 dropped he game, first his In China. in a deal sign to player NBA first the was the 2011 NBA lockout, Chandler During highlights: season CBA Lions team: CBA Four top in the players CBA. NBA their careers who launched

of monster dunks. dunks. monster of trove aYouTube treasure behind left he amonth, only after U.S. the to returned he Although 2011. in CBA the in stint a brief spent champion slam-dunk NBA 2007 the Celtics, Boston the disappointing early career with a After highlights: season CBA Foshan Dralions team: CBA GERALD GREEN - - - here,” Bynum says. “I basically do the same same dothe “I basically says. here,” Bynum it’s like me what asking been have players “A lot of NBA chopsticks. use how to him taught for teammates him). new of his One it bought office (Beyer’s PlayStation ing play downtime his spends and team the by transition.” easy an “It’s been says. Bynum me,” embraced “Everybody’s CBA. the in 21 games first his win on went to who Bynum, snagged Beyer when That’s guard. point American for another asked team the and court.” the off life about serious very he’s and training, about serious “He’s very says. met,” Beyer ever I’ve teenagers mature “He’s most one of the change. cultural the for prepared uniquely was ofpublic Congo, Bynum lives in an upscale hotel owned owned hotel upscale an in lives Bynum ankle, his injured Mudiay December, In Made in China APRIL 2015

2 MEN’S JOURNAL fell short to Marbury’s Ducks. Ducks. Marbury’s to short fell but Finals the in game per points 30 averaged and All-Star an was interpreted in Milwaukee. Brooks Beyer whom for seven-footer the Jianlian, Yi alongside played he when lockout, the during abroad go to opted also Brooks highlights: season CBA Tigers Guangdong team: CBA BROOKS AARON - “Home is on the court.” court.” “Home on the is Bynum. acareer,” have says to you make but it’s asacrifice my family, “I miss night. every kids two his with Skypes Bynum and Christmas, over visit wife’s his organized office Beyer’s basketball.” play and well, eat home: Idoat work out, China in things

with the Nuggets a month later. later. amonth Nuggets the with deal rookie his signed then and draft, League Developmental inaugural the in pick first the was he later, Ayear 1999. in China in basketball pro of season first his played Birdman college, junior of year one just After highlights: season CBA Dragons team: CBA Miami Heat CHRIS ANDERSEN the Guangdong Tigers. Bynum found stardom helped bring him to to him bring helped after Beyer (below) (below) Beyer after n