Jeremy Lin's Joyful Taiwan Homecoming: United with Younger Brother on the Same Team
Jeremy Lin, the former NBA star, fulfilled his dream of playing alongside his younger brother in Taiwan, where their parents immigrated from This marked the start of Jeremy's incredible 14th professional basketball season, adding another chapter to his remarkable career
Jeremy Lin, the former NBA star, kicked off his 14th professional basketball season in Taiwan, where his parents had immigrated from before moving to the United States. Playing alongside his younger brother, Joseph Lin, the 35-year-old point-guard, who gained fame for his remarkable performance during the "Linsanity" era in the 2012 Finals, dazzled the audience at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
The Lin brothers, playing for the New Taipei Kings, easily defeated South Korea's SK Knights in the East Asian Super League and then teamed up again to defeat their local rivals, the Fubon Braves, in Taiwan's P.League+ competition. This marked the first time the brothers played on the same team professionally, although they had previously played against each other as opponents in the previous season.
California native Lin expressed after the game that he had longed for the opportunity to play alongside his brother for many years. He also celebrated the fact that their parents, who immigrated from Taiwan to the US in the 1970s, would no longer have to be concerned about supporting different teams. In addition to his remarkable "Linsanity" period with the New York Knicks over a decade ago, Lin is widely acknowledged as the inaugural American of Taiwanese or Chinese descent to compete in the NBA.
Becoming a trailblazer, he made history as the inaugural Asian-American to secure an NBA Championship when he joined the Toronto Raptors in 2019. This marked his final appearance in the upper echelons of the NBA.
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Lin confronted an unfortunate incident while playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League. He revealed that he endured derogatory remarks, being referred to as "coronavirus" during a game.
The content sparked his campaign to combat violence against Asian Americans in the United States. Lin subsequently joined the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association, and later transferred to the Guangzhou Loong Lions. However, this chapter of his career was marred by the country's stringent pandemic regulations.
Lin joined the Kaohsiung Steelers in Taiwan in January, and later joined the Kings in September. Joseph, who is younger than Lin, had been playing basketball professionally in Taiwan before joining the Kings as well. Matt Beyer, co-founder and CEO of East Asia Super League and a former agent for Yi Jianlian, a prominent Chinese NBA player, emphasized the significant influence Lin would have in the region.
"It is truly amazing to witness their harmonious play. The experience was incredibly significant for the fans in Taipei," Beyer expressed.
"The remarkable aspect is the athlete's return to his ancestral homeland, uniting with his brother. Observing the trajectory of his career, starting from the NBA, extending throughout mainland China, and now returning to his parents' native land."
The journey of this American-born Chinese player from Harvard to the NBA, and his subsequent efforts to learn Chinese and seamlessly integrate himself into both mainland China and Taiwan, is a truly remarkable story of growth and transformation.
When observing the landscape of Asian basketball, it is commonly heard that one is never deemed good enough to compete at the same level as American or European players due to lacking physicality. However, Jeremy Lin's inspiring ascent from humble beginnings to reaching the pinnacle of the NBA serves as a shining example. His current participation in the East Asia Super League is an immensely captivating attraction for fans.
