Yang Yi asked Director Zhang:
"Director Zhang, you played alongside the national team players from the eighties and nineties. From back then until now, what has stood out to you the most?"
At that, Zhang Weiping's eyes grew slightly moist.
"What's stood out to me most is how the status of Chinese players has changed. Back then, when we went abroad to play, people often looked down on us. Even though we were the strongest team in Asia at the time, we still weren't respected in other Asian countries."
"But what about now? When our teams go abroad to play, we can feel the respect everywhere."
"Even in the United States, even in the NBA, many players and other people give a thumbs-up when they talk about Chinese players."
"That's what has stood out to me the most."
Director Zhang lightly wiped his face with a finger and continued:
"Of course, only the strong earn respect. We owe the respect we've gained to Wang Yi and the other players, who earned it on the court."
"And, at the root of it all, we owe it to Wang Yi."
"Not only did he establish himself in the NBA and, as he put it, conquer the NBA, but he also founded Huali Basketball School, bringing America's advanced approach and system for developing basketball players to the school and cultivating a generation of basketball talent in China."
"Pang Bo, Zhang Yu, Zhang Jiacheng—they were all brought along by Wang Yi. And after so many players joined the NBA, their skills, their training, and their attitudes toward competition have earned them respect from players in other countries."
"I hope that more Chinese players will make it to the NBA in the future and earn even more respect for China."
"As for that kid at