Former NBA star Jeremy Lin says his focus has shifted from becoming a champion to helping younger players on his new team, the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers, as he prepares for his debut in Taiwan’s professional basketball league, P. League+.
Speaking at a Wednesday news conference ahead of his debut game this weekend, Lin, 34, said as he’s aged, his focus on basketball has begun to change, particularly towards the younger generation of players.
When I was younger, I wanted to prove myself by winning championships, but now as I’m older I’m searching for something more meaningful in basketball. Now I’m more into focusing on the new generation of basketball players, and the Steelers have many talented and young players. I understand the team’s goals and mindset. I think these suit me.
Born to Taiwanese immigrant parents in Palo Alto, California, Lin arrived in his parents’ home country last week.
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Days after landing in Taiwan, the Kaohsiung Steelers shared several pictures of their new teammate shooting hoops and lifting weights.
After playing basketball for Harvard University, Lin bounced from one team to another in the NBA, starting with the Golden States Warriors during his debut in the 2010-2011 season before being traded to the Houston Rockets.
Lin then played for the New York Knicks two weeks after being waived by the Rockets. The Taiwanese American player rose to international fame with the Knicks for his seven-game winning streak, dubbed “Linsanity.”
Lin went on to play for six other NBA teams before earning an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in June 2019, making him the first Asian American to win an NBA championship.
After his stint in the NBA and later the association’s G-League, Lin traveled to China to play for the Chinese Basketball Association with the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
From the CBA, Lin then switched to Taiwan’s professional basketball scene.
“When I made the decision to join the Steelers, my first thought was I wanted to fast forward to my first game, to be back in an environment with audiences,” he said at the news conference on Wednesday. “I think I can help the team a lot.”
Lin is expected to make his debut on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Formosa Taishin Dreamers at Kaohsiung Fengshan Arena.
Lin would then face off against his younger brother, Joseph, in a game against the New Taipei Kings on Feb. 28.
