The Los Angeles Lakers has officially waived Yi Jianlian after the Chinese basketball superstar requested for his release from the team before the 71^st season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) kick off this week.

The team's announcement had confirmed reports that the seven-footer Chinaman wanted out of the Jerry Buss-owned basketball club after failing to get the team role he had hoped for.

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"Yi was productive in practices and games with us, and was a consummate professional both on and off the court," Mitch Kupchak told in the Lakers' press release on Monday.

"However, he felt that the minutes and opportunities he'd be afforded here were not in line with his goals and ambitions, and that he'd be better off in a different situation,"  the 62-year-old general manager added.

Yi, who is a four-time Chinese Basketball Association Domestic MVP, is averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in the six preseason games he played, while having a scanty 10.7 minutes of playing time.

According to Xinhua, the 28-year-old native of Heshan did not made any statement about his plans of whether he would try to join another NBA team or return to China and play in the CBA.

Yi has reportedly signed a one-year, eight million dollar deal to fit in for the Lakers this August after an impressive individual game performance during the recently-concluded 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Yi is the 2007 NBA Draft sixth overall pick. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks and competed in the league for five seasons while playing for four different teams.

He returned back in China and played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the CBA in the year 2012.

Meanwhile,  along with Yi, the Lakers also waived sophomore forward Anthony Brown.  The 2015 second-rounder pick posted averages of 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per contest in the six games that he played during the preseason, according to NBA.com.

TagsLos Angeles Lakers, Yi Jianlian, NBA, Anthony Brown, Guandong Southern Tigers, Rio Olympics 2016, nba draft