A long line had formed in front of a temporary booth on the street corner. Staff hurriedly handed out Finals-exclusive commemorative T-shirts, wristbands, and flags, each emblazoned with a prominent Finals logo and portraits of the Lakers Players.
The fans wore eager, excited expressions. Even with waits of over half an hour, not one of them complained.
On the plaza outside Staples Center, a giant LED screen played a highlight reel of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship run that season on a continuous loop.
When the footage showed Wang Yi sinking a Midcourt Three-pointer in the Western Conference Finals, the plaza erupted in thunderous cheers. Many fans hugged one another, tears glimmering in their eyes.
Several longtime fans in vintage Lakers jerseys sat on a bench in the plaza, thermoses in hand.
They watched the screen and reminisced. The collars of their jerseys had faded yellow, but were still neatly pressed.
The numbers of legendary players printed on their backs seemed to shine in tandem with Wang Yi's image on the screen before them, as if the legacy had passed across time.
The interactive area in the center of the plaza was even livelier. The organizers had set up games like a shooting challenge and a dribbling obstacle course.
Fans eagerly joined in, and winners earned the chance to enter a drawing for Finals tickets.
A boy of about ten, wearing the same No. 0 jersey as Wang Yi, jumped up and shot again and again in front of the basketball arcade game. His movements were still clumsy, but he was clearly taking it seriously.
His father stood nearby, recording every moment on his phone and loudly cheering him on from time to time.
When the boy sank his final three-pointer and the screen showed a perfect score, the fans