Sun Yue, once a legendary figure in the basketball world, hailed as a genius guard, won both CBA and NBA championships, and at his peak, his fame even surpassed that of Yao Ming, with even superstar Kobe Bryant holding him in high regard.
It was assumed that his future would be bright, and even after retirement, he could live comfortably relying on his reputation in the basketball world.
However, what was unexpected is that today, at the age of 39, Sun Yue has become a completely different person, with a quality of life no different from ordinary people, and even more arduous. Since divorcing his supermodel wife, he has ended up leaving everything behind.
It's not an exaggeration to say that his outcome is truly "self-inflicted"!
Once a Basketball Genius
Sun Yue was born in Cangzhou and influenced by local customs, he developed a strong interest in martial arts from a young age. His dream was to become a chivalrous hero, fighting against evil and protecting the good.
To this end, Sun Yue approached his parents, expressing his desire to attend a martial arts school. However, both his parents were basketball players, and they hoped their child would follow in their footsteps to play basketball and bring glory to the country in the future. The family discussed it for a long time.
Under Sun Yue's insistence, they eventually went to a martial arts school, but to their surprise, the school did not accept him because his height exceeded the standard for admitting students. Thus, Sun Yue gradually moved away from his dream.
Later, under the earnest persuasion of his parents, Sun Yue began to learn basketball. Every morning, his father would take him to the basketball court to practice shooting. It can be said that Sun Yue had a natural talent for basketball, easily making shots into the basket.
Perhaps inheriting his parents' excellent genes, or perhaps due to his height advantage, towering above his peers. Gradually, Sun Yue began to love this sport, practicing basketball skills at the court whenever he had free time, and his skills improved rapidly within a short period.
At the age of only 14, he joined the Aoshen Club and became a professional athlete. Here, Sun Yue got up at 6 am every day, then engaged in various physical training such as morning runs, long-distance runs, and shuttle runs.
The morning training mainly focused on basic skills, repeatedly practicing dribbling, passing, and shooting techniques. The coach made meticulous adjustments to Sun Yue's shooting posture, requiring him to shoot at least 500 balls every day.
Afternoon training was even more intensive, with Sun Yue and his teammates engaging in various tactical cooperation drills, learning offensive tactics such as screens and cuts, as well as various defensive positions and rotations.
Evenings were scheduled for matches, allowing young players to hone their skills in actual combat. After training, Sun Yue often practiced more, especially his weak point—three-point shooting.
This high-intensity training continued for two whole years. Although it was tough, Sun Yue knew it was the only way to reach the professional arena. Under the strict requirements of the coach and his own hard work, Sun Yue's skills improved dramatically, finally qualifying him to stand on the professional court.
Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Aoshen had a conflict with the Chinese Basketball Association. Due to this conflict, Aoshen decided to switch to the American Basketball Association, and at this time, Sun Yue also followed the team to the United States, starting to compete in the ABA league.
Upon arriving in the ABA, Sun Yue faced language barriers and cultural differences, but he quickly proved his strength with his performance. In one game, Sun Yue's agile steps and flexible breakthroughs made the opponents unable to defend, causing multiple fouls and trips to the free-throw line.
During a key defense, he successfully stole the ball from the opponent's ace player and quickly launched a counterattack, assisting his teammate to complete a dunk and overtake the score. Such outstanding statistics made him an object of attention for NBA teams.
Two-time Champion
In 2007, Sun Yue successfully entered the NBA, playing for the Lakers and fighting side by side with Kobe, which was a great honor. Countless players tried desperately to get in, yet Sun Yue was lucky enough to join, and he expressed that he would not disappoint everyone's expectations.
The NBA is vastly different from the ABA. Here, all the players have top-level skills, and each has their unique qualities. Sun Yue was at the bottom here, meaning he had to put in twice the effort.
Moreover, the NBA does not tolerate useless players. Realizing this, Sun Yue began to train even harder. Relying on his diligence and talent, he gradually established himself in the team. In a match, Sun Yue reached his highlight moment.
When the Lakers were trailing, the head coach temporarily changed tactics and let Sun Yue play. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Yue consecutively hit three three-pointers, helping the team quickly catch up with the score. In the last minute, he even secured the victory for the Lakers with a beautiful layup.
After the game, Sun Yue earned praise from his teammate Kobe and the trust of the coach, and his playing time gradually increased. However, it was only a substitute position, but what was unexpected is that this substitute position actually won the NBA championship in 2009.
For this, countless players envied him, saying that Sun Yue had mixed his way to a championship. Sun Yue did not refute this after hearing it. His most glorious moment was when he returned to the CBA, where he easily won the CBA championship on this court, just like crushing vegetables.
After all, Sun Yue came from the NBA. Even if it was a mixed championship, his skills were still among the best. For a time, Sun Yue's fame soared domestically, with fans vying to pursue him, almost overshadowing superstar Yao Ming.
It was thought that Sun Yue's future would be bright, and even after retirement, he could live comfortably relying on his reputation in the basketball world. But unexpectedly, he destroyed his own future with his own hands!
Destroying His Own Future
Back when Sun Yue repeatedly encountered setbacks on the court, he met a young girl named Gu Chen. Gu Chen didn't really understand basketball, but she was moved by Sun Yue's tenacious spirit.
Later, the two began frequent contact, with Gu Chen often going to the scene to cheer for Sun Yue, and Sun Yue would spare time to accompany her. Gu Chen's support greatly encouraged Sun Yue. Even after losing games, she always comforted him with warm words.
Gradually, Sun Yue regained confidence, and his performance on the court began to improve. It was thought that their relationship would become a touching story, but unexpectedly, after Sun Yue won the championship, the two parted ways, leaving countless fans puzzled.
Further investigation revealed that there were so many dark histories behind Sun Yue. On the surface, he was a respected basketball genius, but behind the scenes, he frequently visited various entertainment venues and even flirted intimately with strange women, unable to extricate himself from the world of pleasure.
Seeing this, it became clear that Gu Chen's decision back then was correct. After this storm, Sun Yue got involved with a supermodel named Chen Lu. They quickly fell in love and embarked on a passionate romance under the media spotlight.
Unexpectedly, not long after marriage, Sun Yue began to appear frequently in various social occasions, often chatting and laughing with other women. The media repeatedly photographed him having dinner late at night or entering and leaving hotels with different women, sparking a lot of speculation.
Chen Lu initially chose to believe in her husband and worked hard to maintain the marriage. She reduced her work and spent more time with Sun Yue. However, Sun Yue's behavior did not收敛。
Chen Lu finally couldn't bear it anymore and posted a lengthy article on social media, exposing the fact that Sun Yue had cheated on her multiple times. She stated that she had been silently enduring for years, hoping to save the marriage, but ultimately failed in the face of reality.
This article caused a sensation online, severely damaging Sun Yue's image. He tried to make amends, but it was too late. Under immense public pressure, the two eventually announced their divorce, with Sun Yue ending up leaving everything behind.
Now, at the age of 39, Sun Yue has become a completely different person, living a life no different from ordinary people. In his latest dynamic, Sun Yue took on the role of a basketball ambassador for Beijing Middle School, patiently guiding children in basketball skills, hoping to start anew. May his path lead him further and further.
References:
Baidu Encyclopedia: Sun Yue
Xinhua News Agency Sports: Former National Men's Basketball Player Sun Yue: Having a Mission in Campus Basketball
Mtime Entertainment: National Basketball Player Sun Yue Exposed to Divorce? Married for 8 Years with 2 Children, Now Photographed Meeting Secretly with a Long-legged Model Late at Night
Mobile Guangming Net: After 21 Years of Battle, Basketball Athlete Sun Yue Retires!