The season opener featured the two teams that had faced each other in last season's Finals. That was the kind of matchup that generated real buzz.
Add Wang Yi's popularity to the mix, and the season opener had drawn the attention of tens of millions of viewers.
With Edwards returning to the court this season, the Timberwolves were naturally a level stronger.
Wang Yi, meanwhile, was a few months older, which could well affect his form.
For older players, even though the offseason lasted only a few months, the difference in their form could often be like night and day.
This was especially true of players with explosive athleticism. When they were young, they could rely on their physical gifts to overpower the vast majority of players.
But as they got older, they lost speed, their jumps weren't as high, and their explosiveness faded.
Those few months of rest in the offseason could leave their entire bodies feeling rusty, and even their reactions would slow considerably.
You might have seen them play at a high level in last season's Playoffs, but when the new season began—especially during the first few games—you could suddenly feel that they had aged a lot.
Their shots stopped falling, they turned the ball over more, and they couldn't defend like they used to.
That was exactly what many overseas Wang Yi haters were latching onto. They believed he definitely wouldn't be as good this season.
In particular, they pointed to Wang Yi's two preseason appearances. He averaged 15 minutes and just 7 points per game.
His overall shooting percentage was only 42%, and his Three-point Percentage had fallen all the way to 33%.
Compared to last season, the difference was like night and day.
This seemed to further confirm the claim that Wang Yi was