Wang Yi couldn't be bothered to pay Merlin any more attention.
With Mason sticking close to him, Wang Yi suddenly took off, looking as if he meant to drive past him.
Merlin hurried to use his body to block Wang Yi.
Wang Yi wasn't moving particularly fast, so Merlin easily got in his way.
But Merlin had clearly misread the situation.
Wang Yi wasn't trying to get past him with skill or speed. He was relying on his weight to overpower him.
After retiring, Wang Yi hadn't kept his weight in check. He now weighed 112 kilograms.
In an era when centers were generally leaner and more agile, a center like Gobert weighed only 117 kilograms.
That showed just how heavy Wang Yi was now.
So, just like James once had, he simply used his body to overpower Mason and drive inside.
He took off and leaned into him.
Caught off guard, Mason was shoved backward five steps, all the way beyond the baseline.
After forcing his way into space, Wang Yi saw a big center waiting under the basket. He didn't keep driving toward the rim but instead pulled up just inside the free-throw line.
Then he flicked up a quick floater.
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
It wouldn't be accurate to say Wang Yi's basketball skills had deteriorated across the board during his retirement.
He'd lost strength and speed. His explosiveness was gone, he could no longer hit logo threes, and his three-point shot wasn't as accurate as before.
But when he played pickup games, he often used floaters to finish.
Not for any particular reason—he just thought that shot was fun.
Unlike a jump shot, a floater didn't need a windup.
It was more flexible than a jump shot.
He could suddenly release a floater