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"(Anderson) obtained Chinese nationality this
morning and met Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball
Association," the CBA said in a post on its official Weibo
account.
Not long after Anderson confirmed he would play for China at the
FIBA World Cup that tips off on Aug. 25 in the Philippines,
Japan and Indonesia.
"I'm so happy to announce that I will be representing China at
the World Cup," said Anderson in a video posted to his Weibo
account.
"Really proud and honored to wear the team China jersey."
The citizenship could also enable Anderson to represent China at
the Olympic Games in Paris next year.
FIBA allows teams to have one naturalized player on their
roster. Chinese media reported Anderson's maternal grandmother
was born in Jamaica to a Chinese father and Jamaican mother.
China had previously announced an 18-man squad for the World
Cup, but FIBA said the final rosters will be confirmed only
after a technical meeting that is set to take place before the
start of the tournament.
Other athletes who were naturalized include several Brazilians
who moved to China in the hopes of playing international
football.
Former Arsenal and Brentford midfielder Nico Yennaris, who was
born in England, became the first overseas-born player to be
called up for China's national team in 2019.
At the time, the Chinese Super League was also the go-to
destination for football players looking for lucrative
contracts.
It is unclear if Anderson and the others have renounced their
original nationality. China has strict rules that usually
prevent dual nationality for its citizens.
(Reporting by Martin Pollard in Beijing, Rohith Nair in
Bengaluru and Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Jamie Freed
and Toby Davis)
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