I am speaking out! Li Kaier hopes to play for the Chinese men's basketball team again: compete in the World Cup and then go to the Olympics.

On April 2 Beijing time, while signing autographs for fans, Timberwolves player Li Kaier was asked if he would play for the Chinese team again. Li Kaier's response was: "Yes, I want to, the World Cup, and then go to the Olympics."

Li Kaier officially obtained Chinese citizenship on July 24, 2023, becoming the first naturalized player in the history of the Chinese men's basketball team. He has 1/8 Chinese ancestry.

On August 6, 2023, during the Trentino Cup match against Italy, Li Kaier played for 19 minutes and 31 seconds, scoring 11 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in his debut for the Chinese men's basketball team.

In the 2023 Men's Basketball World Cup, Li Kaier played 5 games for the Chinese men's basketball team, achieving a record of 1 win and 4 losses, averaging 13 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Ultimately, the team failed to qualify for the Olympics. Including warm-up matches, Li Kaier played a total of 9 games for the Chinese men's basketball team.

After the 2023 World Cup, Li Kaier has not been selected for the Chinese men's basketball team's training roster again. However, as of April 2026, his agency officially confirmed that he still holds Chinese citizenship and is eligible to play for the national team. Li Kaier has also clarified some rumors and repeatedly expressed his willingness to continue playing for the Chinese men's basketball team.

A representative from Li Kaier's agency stated: "Li Kaier is not a naturalized mercenary under FIBA rules; he has roots and family in China. If the national team needs him, (Li Kaier) does not rule out the possibility of continuing to play in the future. It is even possible that he might play in the CBA in the future."

So far this season, Li Kaier has played for the Jazz, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves, totaling 37 games played, averaging 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1 steal per game, with a shooting percentage of 52.7% and a three-point shooting percentage of 44.4%. Throughout his career to date, Li Kaier has played 751 regular-season games in the NBA, averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.