Jeremy Lin announces return to basketball for 14th season after considering retirement
By Ryan General
Former NBA star Jeremy Lin has announced his intentions to continue playing basketball after considering retirement.
Game on: The 34-year-old Taiwanese American athlete took to Instagram on Sunday to share his plans to extend his professional career for a 14th season, albeit with an undetermined league and team.
“After taking six weeks to process it all, I’m ready to get back on the court and prepare for the 2024 season, wherever that may be,” said Lin.
According to the 2019 NBA champion, his decision was not driven by a desire to prove anything or secure his legacy, but by his passion for basketball and the opportunity to spread love through the game.
In his post, Lin also expressed gratitude to his team and fans in Taiwan, acknowledging his initial emotional and mental exhaustion but praising the support that helped him regain belief in his skills and rekindle his joy for basketball.
I was ready to finish the 2023 season and potentially walk away from the game. I was 100 percent at peace with everything I had given and accomplished in the game. But over those three months as a Steelers player, I grew a renewed belief in my skills and re-found childlike joy for the game.
Past uncertainties: Lin, who last played for the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in the Taiwanese P League+, had previously expressed uncertainty about his future on the court after his team failed to reach the playoffs in May.
With just two victories in 15 games, the Steelers were languishing at the bottom of the league when Lin joined. However, Lin’s arrival gave the team enough momentum to climb the standings, nearly propelling them to the playoffs.
During his stint with the Steelers, Lin became the first player in Taiwan’s PLG history to record a 50-point triple-double, scoring 50 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Journeyman: After earning an NBA championship as a member of the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Lin became a free agent and remained unsigned for the rest of the off-season.
From 2019-2022, he signed with two different teams in the Chinese Basketball Association before heading to the Taiwanese P League+ in January.
Steelers want him back: In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Steelers owner Tony Chin To revealed that the franchise is actively working to re-sign Lin for another season, highlighting the player’s affinity for Taiwan and the team’s shared commitment to giving back to the community.
The NBA, where Lin played for nine seasons, recently started its free agency on June 30, allowing teams to start negotiating with players until July 6 during a period called the Free Agency Moratorium.
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