Since the coach and the team's star player had both said as much, naturally, no one else had any objections.
So, at the pregame press conference that followed, a reporter asked Park Jae-joong and Park In-seong to share their thoughts on China Team.
Park In-seong said, "China Team has always had the foundation of a traditional powerhouse. Their golden generation of '94 finished in the top eight at both the Olympics and the World Championships. Back then, they were unquestionably the best team in Asia. Now, with Wang Yi joining them, China Team has made a full-fledged comeback. Their ability to defeat teams ranked among the world's top three is proof enough of how strong they are."
"We wouldn't dare call ourselves their equals. We can only approach them with a willingness to learn and exchange ideas."
"Wang Yi is the strongest player in the world, and now they have the most promising center, Pang Bo, as well. China Team is definitely a world-class powerhouse."
After South Korea Team's head coach, Park In-seong, spoke, it was their captain and star center, Park Jae-joong's turn.
Park Jae-joong had long hair that fell to his shoulders, with one lock tied back behind his head.
A strand of hair was covering his right eye. He pursed his lips and blew upward, sending the strand fluttering away.
Then he smiled into the microphone and said:
"Wang Yi has always been the player I admire most, bar none. His iconic dunks are unforgettable, and I've watched every one of his classic games. There's no doubt he's the greatest player of all time. A lot of people are still debating whether he or Jordan is the GOAT, but I don't think there's any need for that debate. Even Jordan himself has acknowledged that Wang Yi is