"The East isn't an easy place to play. Just look at the West right now—how many stars does it even have? Now look at the East: Wemby, LaMelo Ball, King Arthur, Jokic. Eighty percent of the league's stars are concentrated in the East."
"Wang Yi's been playing on beginner mode in the West. If he were in the East, it'd be hell difficulty. So there's nothing for him to brag about just because he won a championship in the West."
Wang Yi knew about these comments, of course, but for the time being, he wasn't going to pay them any mind.
Now that the season was over and he was on vacation, he naturally wanted to return to China.
After all, it had been nearly half a year since he'd last seen his parents and child.
In fact, once the NBA Finals were over, there was another major event on the horizon: where Wang Yi would go.
The contract Wang Yi had signed with the Kings had expired. This summer, he would become an unrestricted free agent.
He could go wherever he wanted.
And every team wanted a player like Wang Yi—one with such star power, skill, influence, and commercial value.
The first team to make its intentions known was the Hornets.
After the Finals between the Hornets and the Kings ended, Jordan said in an interview, "If Wang Yi is willing to come to the Hornets this summer, I'll offer him whatever he wants."
Jordan had once been the God of Basketball, and he was famously proud. The fact that even he would say something like that showed just how much influence Wang Yi had.
Next came the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss said in an interview, "If Wang Yi is willing to come to the Lakers,