Since the Bucks had the third best record in the League before Thanksgiving, owner Herb Kohl was overjoyed and invited the entire team to his estate for a Thanksgiving party.
At the party, Kohl thanked everyone in the Bucks organization from top to bottom.
Yu Fei was especially acknowledged.
This was completely different from last year's New Year's Eve in D.C.
Even though Yu Fei had also been a key figure in the Wizards' push into the top four of the Eastern Conference, the team's peculiar internal atmosphere meant that the owner did not thank him significantly.
Kohl, on the other hand, clearly appreciated Yu Fei as the primary individual on the team.
Even Yu Fei's seating was deliberate.
As a common practice to avoid close association with the owner, most players would sit opposite, while the owner would typically sit next to the head coach and the general manager.