In this World Cup, China ended the schedule and failed to qualify for the two-win and three-loss group stage. Originally the weakest group, it still didn't qualify. This ending surprised many fans. In this World Cup, almost all the players in China Men's Basketball Team are invisible. Except Yi Jianlian, a 32-year-old veteran, no one can stand up to resist the decline.
Yi Jianlian's performance in this World Cup can definitely be said to be the pillar. Yi Jianlian is the captain of China team for the first time in this World Cup. Whether this taciturn big man can lead the team forward is generally questioned. However, Yi Jianlian is indeed the well-deserved leader of the China team. However, teammates desperately don't want to move forward and let Yi Jianlian play, but teammates still can't afford their own responsibilities.
In the last game against Nigeria, Yi Jianlian scored 27 points, but the team's starting point guard and center combined to score 4 points. After the game, Diogu, a Nigerian who was knocked down by him in the game, also applauded Yi Jianlian's performance. He said, "Tonight is a brilliant moment in his outstanding career, and he wants to lead the team to victory alone." Between the lines, we can also see that he is also distressed by Yi Jianlian, a player who leads the team alone.
As a team sport, basketball can never be won by one person. Yi Jianlian is a human being, not made of steel, and will grow old. We don't know who can carry this banner after Yi Jianlian retired, but we only know that no one is qualified to carry this team except Yi Jianlian.