He was forty, and after going all out for so long, his calves felt heavy. But he still stood firm.
The Bucks players trudged toward the bench one by one, heads down and arms hanging limp.
Little Antetokounmpo kicked a bottle by the sidelines, his face dark. He still hadn't recovered from that three-pointer.
Lopez II dropped into a chair and covered his head with a towel. He didn't even have the strength to look up.
The Bucks coach stood on the sidelines, his brows knotted. He gripped the tactics board so hard it creaked, lips pressed shut as he held in his anger.
Just then, Shan He came over and hugged Wang Yi tightly.
All season, he'd been alone, making his way in the unfamiliar United States.
Now he'd finally met someone from home, and he had so much to say.
Wang Yi patted Shan He on the back. "Twenty-one points. Not bad! You've already established yourself as a starter on the Bucks."
"Next, you can set your sights on becoming an outstanding starting playmaker!"
Shan He had a thousand things to say, but in the end, only one came out: "I will, Brother Yi!"
Nicholson had already gotten to his feet by the sidelines, clapping and shouting at the top of his lungs until his palms turned red.
The Lakers Fans in the stands were even wilder, waving Wang Yi posters and chanting "MVP" again and again, their voices deafening.
Some were shouting at the top of their lungs, "Wang Yi Niu Bi!"
Magician still hadn't recovered in the Commentary Booth. He spoke into his microphone, saying, "I've played for so many years and commentated for so many years, and I've never seen a forty-year-old player fight this hard—let alone keep it up for so long."
Reggie Miller