Former NBA sensation Jeremy Lin, recently recruited by the P. LEAGUE+’s Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers, arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday.
Lin arrived at the airport at 5:46 a.m. on a China Airlines flight from the United States before being picked up by a car and leaving the airport via a special VIP terminal.
Lin, whose parents are from Taiwan, is believed to be observing Taiwan’s “0+7” self-initiated prevention for arrivals.
Lin had pointed out earlier in the week that he will be practicing social distancing between Feb. 4-11, which means he will not be participating in team games or visiting the Steelers’ home court during that period.
In a statement, the Steelers said Lin would officially report to the club next week and participate in practice.
The Steelers added they would hold a press conference for Lin on Feb. 8.
Regarding when Lin would play his first game for the Steelers, the club said they would evaluate Lin’s physical condition and leave the decision to the coaching staff.
On Jan. 26, Lin shared an Instagram post that featured an image of him wearing a mockup of his new team’s jersey bearing his trademark no. 7, with the caption: “KaoHsiung, here I come!”
In a statement on the same day, the Steelers confirmed that the 34-year-old guard had signed with the southern port city club.
Speculation about Lin possibly signing with a Taiwanese team began last year as questions about his performance and playing time in the CBA started to appear.
The total points scored in his second season in the CBA playing for the Beijing Ducks in the 2021-2022 period dropped to 309 points in 507 minutes over 23 games from his previous performance in 2019-2020 of 871 points over 1,252 minutes over 39 games.
Furthermore, out of the seven games Lin played for the Guangzhou Loong Lions before leaving the CBA this season, there were two games where he only played for four minutes each.
Lin gained a huge following in Taiwan after he took the basketball scene by storm over a decade ago playing for the New York Knicks.
While that backing has moderated in recent years, he would likely still be a big hit with any Taiwanese club, given how many fans support him on his social media accounts.
Lin became the first American of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA in 2010-2011 and shot to fame in 2012 with the Knicks.
The ensuing “Linsanity” craze started when Lin dropped 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers during an electrifying home win at Madison Square Garden.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel