For these reasons, President Irving wanted to honor Wang Yi and said he would prepare a special gift for him.
This made everyone curious, secretly wondering what kind of gift it could be.
Amid all this anticipation,
on June 15, the NBA made an announcement.
The announcement immediately caused a sensation among basketball fans around the world.
"To honor Wang Yi for his heroic actions, we have decided to work with the military to hold Game 5 of the Finals—the game marking Wang Yi's return—aboard the USS Lincoln, at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California."
The announcement sent shock waves through the entire basketball world.
The Chinese internet exploded.
"Holy crap, they're holding a basketball game on an aircraft carrier! That's incredible!"
"That's my man Brother Yi! They even brought out an aircraft carrier for him!"
"I've heard of games being held on aircraft carriers before, but this is the first time the NBA has ever played one there!"
Of course, some people started voicing the opposite opinion.
"Wang Yi is Chinese, but he's accepting an American medal. Isn't that a little inappropriate?"
"Having a Chinese player compete aboard an American aircraft carrier for Americans to watch—isn't there some ulterior motive?"
"Basketball is just entertainment. A game in a regular arena would be one thing, but now Wang Yi is playing aboard an American aircraft carrier, entertaining Americans. Isn't that downright shameless?"
For a while, opinions about the matter back home became sharply divided.
Those who supported him thought Wang Yi was incredible.
A Chinese player had made it in America, and now the NBA was moving a game onto an aircraft carrier, letting him show off the skill of a Chinese athlete right on their doorstep. There was no doubt that he was bringing glory to