December 12, 2008 5:16 pm  |  62 Comments

Bonzi Wells Signs To Play In China


Xinhua, China’s official governmental press agency, is reporting that Bonzi Wells signed a one-year contract worth roughly $40,000 to play for Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association.

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This story is filed under: NBA, Other News

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  • RV Posted: Dec.12 at 5:21 pm
    The only way this can get any worse for Bonzi is if Kirk Snyder and Mike Harris mop the floor with him over there…

  • Sari Posted: Dec.12 at 5:21 pm
    no one would sign him for more than 40g? dammm

  • Cordeazy Posted: Dec.12 at 5:24 pm
    so sad

  • JackBrown Posted: Dec.12 at 5:34 pm
    Awesome. -Portland

  • ber Posted: Dec.12 at 5:34 pm
    I don’t know why, but this makes me feel very sad…

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Dec.12 at 5:36 pm
    I’m pretty sure half the League would’ve signed him for a one-year contract at minimum salary…Not only would he be playing in the states, he’d be making 30 times as much money too.

  • Brandon Hoffman Posted: Dec.12 at 5:41 pm
    I bet that five-year, $38.5 million dollar contract Bonzi turned down in 2006 is looking really good right now…

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.12 at 5:43 pm
    At least the name fits.

  • BeatSmiff Posted: Dec.12 at 5:48 pm
    I think he should change his name to Bon Zhi or maybe Bon Xi!

  • Allen Walker Posted: Dec.12 at 5:50 pm
    40 GRAND?????

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.12 at 5:52 pm
    Maybe he just wanted to live in China. Do they have bomb-ass weed in China?

  • RV Posted: Dec.12 at 6:06 pm
    No B, just bomb-ass chinese food.

  • Alex Barkett Posted: Dec.12 at 6:08 pm
    No way. That has to be a typo. I make 40,000.

  • Tommy Patron Posted: Dec.12 at 6:18 pm
    Will be changing his name to Bonzai?

  • ciolkstar Posted: Dec.12 at 6:22 pm
    Just 40 large? Ouch. Bonzi has really fallen off, but man did he used to murder the Spurs (esp on the offensive glass)

  • Static Posted: Dec.12 at 6:32 pm
    damn that is sad…and now my salary is higher than his…even Donald “Scrooge” Sterling would’ve paid him more

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Dec.12 at 6:34 pm
    I thought it was a typo when I saw it, Static. I’m still hoping that it is…

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.12 at 6:48 pm
    “It’s not about the money. It’s about Genral Pao’s Orange Chicken!” Bonzi might’ve said.

  • RV Posted: Dec.12 at 6:49 pm
    i dont think its a typo, with the salaries being lower over there and i believe the season already began, so it may only be for short time. It also says Wells was waiting on an offer from a spanish club before accepting this offer, it’s sad that both the NBA and euroleague couldn’t/wouldn’t sign him.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.12 at 6:50 pm
    @ B. Long: You know you love Chinese food.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.12 at 6:53 pm
    Look Bonzi will love China and the people there will love him too. And also keep in mind that they’ve converted it to $ US. I know some of you ignorant @sses don’t know this, but $1 bills in other countries do not have George Washington on it.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.12 at 6:53 pm
    Also, Bonzi would be a good fit for the Raptors. Just saying…

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.12 at 6:54 pm
    Whoa, Kirk Snyder is in China too? Cool. They can hang out.

  • RV Posted: Dec.12 at 6:56 pm
    FYI, Gabe Muoneke leads the league with 35ppg. Leon rodgers is at 32.5 ppg, Lee benson at 31 ppg. Snyder and Harris at 30 ppg.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.12 at 7:09 pm
    Cool, RV. Also, Houston Rockets players love China and vice versa.
    Anybody else see a Houston Vs. Utah playoff match-up in the first round? Just check the standings…

  • WSC Posted: Dec.12 at 7:10 pm
    Bonzi Wells is making $400,000 for four months plus lots of endorsements not 40k
    Turn down some NBA teams. China team may
    bump up $$ Bonzi may also return to NBA for
    playoffs. China is expandinng exponentially
    in many facets. China is a great place to play.
    Bonzi and other U.S. players serve as ambassadors

  • vmcb Posted: Dec.12 at 7:14 pm
    damn man, i remember when bonzi was tearing it up for Sactown.

  • KobeWearsAPurpleThong Posted: Dec.12 at 9:12 pm
    He went to China for the communism.

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.12 at 9:26 pm
    Yes Teddy, I do love Chinese food.

  • Luke Posted: Dec.12 at 9:51 pm
    Must be a typo. I would think he’d be getting either 400K, or 40K a month for the rest of the season. Players with any sort of nba exp don’t bother going overseas for 40k usd. If Josh Childress is making his millions in greece it wouldn’t make sense for bonzi to leave and get paid chump change.

  • DALLAS STOKES Posted: Dec.12 at 10:16 pm
    HAS TO BE A TYPO, $40,000? THAT MUST BE A GAME!!!

  • Bostwik Posted: Dec.12 at 10:42 pm
    So we should start calling him Bonzi Tree?

  • KobeWearsAPurpleThong Posted: Dec.12 at 10:51 pm
    Sactown…lol. Getting tea-bagged by the league nightly on a TV near you.

  • Roy Posted: Dec.13 at 12:23 am
    Bonz must love chinese food… :D

  • MacYao Posted: Dec.13 at 2:34 am
    He is getting $40k/month, according to Chinese source.

  • ric Posted: Dec.13 at 5:15 am
    All those players rushing over to Europe for some decent change and Mr. Wells goes to. .. . . . . CHINA?

  • Jack Posted: Dec.13 at 7:45 am
    40K? You kiddin me? Didn’t he get offered a huge-@ss contract in 06′? Ah well, maybe he likes his fried rice and dim sims authentic…

  • nastierthanyou Posted: Dec.13 at 8:46 am
    @ RV when was the last time you got paid 40,000 for playing in your league @ the ymca.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Dec.13 at 12:07 pm
    all these bonzai jokes are stupid, that stuff is japanese.

  • demetre wells Posted: Dec.13 at 1:17 pm
    you know this is bonzi wells so forget all ya that saying bad stuff but its about time he gets signs to a the nba wouldn’t take but china thats wuz up holla

  • vtrobot Posted: Dec.13 at 1:34 pm
    i bet he’s thinking back fondly to the days when he was spitting on the fans in portland and throwing his gum at them. at least he’s doing better than some of the other jailblazers. i’m talking about you mr. ryder. it’s pretty funny when some people are insulted by offers of tens of millions of dollars to PLAY A GAME.

  • Josh D Posted: Dec.13 at 2:04 pm
    Enjoy Communism, Bonzi

  • Ryan Posted: Dec.13 at 2:38 pm
    When does the CBA season end? Pretty crazy, there had to be offers from teams here (or at least in Europe?)

  • RV Posted: Dec.13 at 3:52 pm
    nastierthanyou, what’s your point?? I can go to the YMCA and play whenever i want or don’t want. No expectations. No contracts. I stay at home, with my family. Its obviously not even close to just playing at the Y, the fact you even compare it to that is a joke, which is exactly why 40K is a low offer for Bonzi. If HE was playing in a semi-pro league here in the State for 40K, then it would be a good offer.

  • Rod Fillmore Posted: Dec.13 at 5:38 pm
    Don’t they make that at McDonalds?

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Dec.13 at 11:44 pm
    This is upsetting.

  • JoeMama Posted: Dec.14 at 2:23 am
    Bonzi who? haha or Bonzee Hu what a friggin mofo, if he is that bad why don’t he go to ABA they desperately need people, not bonzi wells or (not so well)

  • Darksaber Posted: Dec.14 at 7:44 am
    great place to play hmm? Didnt an afro american player get harassed after a game recently by opponents? In the presence of his little children plus wifey, they cornered the guy. And the culprit players got some lame fines? (10G’s). Nice place to play, indeed.

  • Dejan M. Posted: Dec.14 at 12:57 pm
    40k is too low, he could get more in any European club that competes in some international cup (Euroleague, Uleb Cup…) i think…

  • Dma Posted: Dec.14 at 8:26 pm
    bonzi loves him some moo shu

  • Andy Posted: Dec.16 at 8:07 pm
    Bonzi Wells is a great player.I remember that once he blocked LeBron James and ran to the other end and did a alleyu slam dunk last season. he is good as LeBron and strong as Dwight Howerd, and fast as Aaron Brooks!
    I really like him, ttust me, he is GOOD!

  • Andy Posted: Dec.16 at 8:11 pm
    BY THE WAY, THE $$$ IS NOTHING FOR HIM, I THINK HE NEEDS TO LET OTHER TEAM KNOW HOW GOOD HE IS, BECAUSE I AM A TURE FAN OF THE ROCKETS AND I LOVE IT WHEN HE DUNK AND JACKING UP 3S!!

  • MW524 Posted: Dec.16 at 11:03 pm
    it’s reported in china that he earn 50k USD per mth….which will make him earn like 300k for the rest of the reason. That’s a misunderstanding.

  • chintao Posted: Dec.17 at 10:14 pm
    There are often problems with translating numbers in China. Big numbers are measured in increments of 10,000, which creates alot of confusion. Since there is a quota on foreign ballers in the CBA and foreigners are said to be well-paid vis-a-vis their skill, I’m guessing Bonzi probably is pulling six figures for this gig.

  • chintao Posted: Dec.17 at 10:19 pm
    @ B. Long Posted Dec.12 at 5:52 pm ==> Bonzi definitely is not coming for the weed. I have heard that the hash can be decent, if you know a reputable source. Plain green is harder to find and of inconsistent quality.

  • Matt Posted: Dec.23 at 3:07 pm
    He can come back to memphis!!!!!

  • Alex Posted: Dec.24 at 8:11 am
    damn aint that a shame… and for only 40,000 bucks. i woulda just sat around in my mansion in the states then go play for china

  • Muncie Posted: Dec.31 at 2:59 pm
    Wells is pulling in over 400,000 this season for playing over there. And he has said this is more of a statement move, because the only thing NBA teams were offering him was minimum salary, which for Bonzi, is a tad ridiculous. He’s a good player, and look for him to resurface in the NBA soon.

  • Pete Posted: Jan.2 at 12:20 pm
    IM IN THE BUSS…HES MAKING 40k a month…THAT IS GREAT MONEY..ADD IT UP IT WILL BE MORE THAN MINIMUM MONEY HE WAS OFFERED IN THE NBA….

  • SKeye Posted: Jan.22 at 8:51 am
    I can confirm that alot of faults get made by translating chinese text and figures to other languages as i often work with chinese people in my business. 400k is more likely the sum Bonzi gets for playing there. Ok the level aint as high as NBA and europe but they are getting there fast! remember YAO? He’s from china and look what he puts up every night. Ok he gets training in the NBA but ya cant get there without being a good player already. If NBA was a 10 then europe is a 9,9 and china a 7 so that aint bad aint it?
    Grtz,
    ThA SkEyE

  • MiChaEl Posted: Jan.27 at 3:23 pm
    I just got detail news from Shangxi Zhongyu. Bonzi’s salary is $80k per month, and $40k one-time “signing” fee (Once Bonzi signed the contract, he got this $40k)

  • wowzer Posted: Mar.14 at 4:03 am
    he loves his asian women!!

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