 Nyorera kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Kuburikidza nemitambo yake yekutanga makumi matatu nenomwe neNew Jersey, Yi akaenzana 10.5 mapoinzi uye 6.2 rebounds pamutambo uku achipfura 39 kubva kumashure kwemutsara wemapoinzi matatu, yaive pamusoro peavhareji yake kubva mwaka wapfuura. Asi musi wa9 January 2009, Yi akatyora chigunwe chiduku choruoko rwake rworudyi uye zvaitarisirwa kuti aizopedza vhiki ina kusvika kumatanhatu. Thorn akazviti nguva yakashata nokuti akanga achitamba zvakanaka, asi Yi akati ndichangoita nguva yangu. Ndichadzoka. Mukuvhota kwe2009 NBA All-Star Game, Yi akapedza wechitatu muzvose mavhoti nokuda mberi muEastern Conference, mberi vatambi akadai Paul Pierce uye Chris Bosh. 