As the Basketball World Cup approached, Luol Deng went around the world to bring back South Sudanese players who were playing in leagues in various countries.
He spent his own money buying them basketball gear and fitness equipment.
These South Sudanese players, who had endured the ravages of war, were remarkably united and hardworking.
They all understood that basketball was the only thing that could change their lives, and the only thing that could give this war-torn country even a glimmer of hope.
Ultimately, driven by that belief and their incredible talent, they made it to the Basketball World Cup in just a few short years through relentless hard work and training on outdoor cement courts beneath rusted hoops.
In the group stage, they went toe-to-toe with Team America, the dominant force in world basketball, at one point leading by more than ten points.
They even came close to pulling off a last-second upset against Team America.
A team this inspiring, with players this inspiring, had a power within them that absolutely could not be underestimated.
Wang Yi believed that, given time, more South Sudanese players would make it to the NBA, where they would surely unleash tremendous potential—and might even influence the landscape of world basketball to some degree.
After studying the three South Sudanese players, Wang Yi fell into thought.
He pondered the meaning of basketball.
He had always believed basketball was about building physical fitness, bringing people together, honing one's will, and never giving up or abandoning one's teammates.
But from Luol Deng's actions and the South Sudanese team's journey, he seemed to glimpse some new meanings of basketball.
For ordinary people, basketball was just a way to stay fit, a hobby.
For athletes, basketball was a passion and a job that put food on the table.