One of the best stories of the 2008 NBA Draft was West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, who went No. 8 to Milwaukee. The 6-8 Alexander spent six years of his childhood in Taiwan and China and speaks fluent Mandarin. His father runs a non-profit that helps American businesses trade with China. Yet Alexander won’t get to speak Chinese with Yi Jianlin because the Bucks traded him to the Nets for Richard Jefferson.
Read my two stories that ran on the West Virginia Rivals site: “True to Form, Alexander Still Working Hard” and “Bucks Take Alexander With No. 8 Pick.”