259. I should have gone to Yao Ming's house during the regular season!_3

Apart from bolstering their team strength, they also started earning more money.

Unlike Zhang Yang, who joined the Bobcats and was selected as an All-Star starter after playing most of the season, Yao Ming was already a walking 'money-printing machine.' Back in the day, even Ryan Bowen, a fringe player averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game, had interviews every now and then. He could earn hundreds of thousands of US dollars in sponsorships annually, nearly matching his NBA salary from off-court earnings.

Apart from a very few players like Bob Sura and someone else, all teammates loved Yao Ming.

The Bobcats were also very excited, eagerly awaiting the start of the defending champions' season.