Jeremy Lin ‘in contact’ with Chinese Basketball Association teams: reports
- Former player and Lin’s business associate says Linsanity star will return to China for TV and All-Star game this summer
- ‘He is in contact with several CBA teams. He may return to the CBA next season. I hope everything goes well for him,’ says Li Qun
Chinese media reported that Li Qun, general manager of the Jeremy Lin-Li Qun Basketball League, said Lin would return to China this summer but could be back to play longer term.
“Jeremy will come to China this summer,” Li said. “He will participate in the recording of some variety shows and will also participate in our star game. Although Jeremy is currently in the United States, he is in contact with several CBA teams. He may return to the CBA next season. I hope everything goes well for him.”
The news was reported in mainland and Taiwanese media outlets.
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Jeremy Lin says he has realised his childhood dream in China
Lin, 32, played in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Beijing Ducks in the 2019-20 season before returning to the US to pursue his dream of an NBA comeback.
In China, Lin averaged 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game for the Ducks as he led them to the CBA play-offs semi-finals.
The deadline for players signing to be eligible for the play-offs later this month was the end of the regular season, which ended on Sunday night in the US.
Lin had hinted that he may return to China, having told Beijing Ducks fans that he intended to play there again when he left for the NBA.
Former basketball player Li and Lin united to build basketball courts in 2018 ahead of the Fiba Basketball World Cup, aiming to build 100 before 2023.
“What I admire the most about Jeremy is his love of basketball,” Li said. “His growth process is always on the verge of being eliminated. It is more like my childhood experience, we compare. There is a common language but, of course, there are many fundamental differences between Chinese and American basketball.”