The next day, Wang Yi trained with his teammates.
Wang Yi had already made his decision. Although his body had not fully recovered,
given the team's steadily declining results, he was preparing to return ahead of schedule.
The team doctors would arrange his playing time.
For the first few games, he would play only ten minutes, gradually increasing to fifteen, then twenty.
Twenty-five minutes, then thirty.
The team doctors believed that Wang Yi's playing time should not exceed thirty minutes before the end of the season. Even in the Playoffs, it should not exceed thirty-five minutes.
They also reminded the coaching staff that Wang Yi's right foot had not recovered to one hundred percent and was still very fragile.
He was highly susceptible to injury. If he got hurt again, he might have to retire on the spot.
Therefore, the coaching staff attached great importance to controlling Wang Yi's playing time.
During training that morning, the coaching staff rearranged the lineup.
Head Coach Phil Jackson said,
"Wang, you've just returned, and you're under a strict minutes restriction. We plan to have you start from the bench. What do you think?"
Wang Yi nodded. "No problem."
Given his current physical condition, competing against the opposing Main Force Lineup would put too much pressure on his right foot.
To be safe, it was better for him to come off the bench first and compete against the opposing substitutes.
Once his right foot adapted to the intensity of NBA contact and his physical condition gradually recovered, he could return to the main force. That was the most reasonable choice.
After the lineup was set, the next priority was helping Wang Yi build chemistry with the substitutes.
Wang Yi led the substitutes in a twenty-minute intrasquad scrimmage against the Starting players.
The Starting players'