Former UL Star Shawn Long Playing Well In China

Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun men’s basketball standout Shawn Long is off to a good start in his new basketball home, which is a long way from his first home.

Long, who played for the Cajuns from 2013-2016, is performing well for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.

A forward/center, Long is averaging 12.0 points, to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per contest, helping his team to a 3-3 start to the season.

The CBA, which features 20 teams, is widely regarded as the best professional basketball league in Asia.

Long, who is averaging 17.1 minutes-per-game in China, appeared in 18 games for the Philadelphia Sixers last season, his first in the NBA, averaging 8.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG in just 13.0 minutes per contest.

Prior to signing with the Sixers, Long was a standout in the G League, averaging a double-double (20.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG) in 39 games for the Delaware 87ers.

The 24-year old Long was traded to the Houston Rockets in the offseason, before being waived in September

A native of Morgan City, scored 2,342 points and compiled 1,447 rebounds in his career at UL, becoming the first player to school history to score 2,000 points, while also pulling down 1,000 rebounds.

Long’s career points are the third-most in Cajun basketball history, while his rebound number ranks first.

The 6-foot-9, 248-pound Long was named a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection three times.