New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian, sidelined since spraining his right knee in the season's fourth game, is expected to return to the NBA club's lineup on Wednesday against Minnesota.
The 22-year-old Chinese star has been idled for seven weeks but took part in workouts Monday and Tuesday and is anxious to play his first game under new Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe.
"He hasn?t played in six or seven weeks now so it takes more than one or two practices to be ready," said Vandeweghe. "But I know he wants to play very badly. We?ll just have to make a judgment call if it?s the right thing to do."
Vandeweghe, also the general manager, took over coaching duties after Lawrence Frank was fired following an 0-16 start that became an 0-18 run, the worst start in NBA history.
The Nets, now 2-25, might have had Yi back sooner but he suffered a split lip when struck by an elbow in a practice session. The cut took 50 stitches and surgery to seal and kept him from workouts to avoid infecting the deep gash.
"I feel good," Yi said. "Haven't played in a while but I've been working on the knee and everything is good right now. I'm ready."
Yi averaged 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games before the injury.
Copyright 2009  AFP American Edition
