NBA: Jeremy Lin ‘not chasing Linsanity, money or proving people wrong’ with free agency hopes

‘I will be waiting for free agency and preparing myself for the NBA – and continuing my greatest dream,’ says former New York Knicks star
The 32-year-old tells of how he went from ‘rock bottom’ last year to getting his confidence back with the Beijing Ducks in single CBA season

Jeremy Lin

Jonathan White

Published: 12:00pm, 16 Sep 2020

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Jeremy Lin’s decision to leave the Chinese Basketball Association after one season with the Beijing Ducks to try again at the NBA is not about “chasing Linsanity”, he said.

“This isn’t about chasing the shadow of Linsanity. Or proving anyone right or wrong. Or about money, fame, reputation or power,” the 32-year-old wrote on Instagram after first revealing his decision to Chinese fans on Weibo.

Lin burst onto the scene in 2012 when he helped an injury-ravaged New York Knicks into play-off form in a period that came to be known as “Linsanity”.

The NBA champion, who won a ring with the Toronto Raptors before leaving the league, wrote of the difficulty of his decision in what he called his “realist caption ever”.

“We love to tell kids to dream big but we don’t often talk about the fears they might face. Truth is, fear is a BEAST. It snuck up on me. Through all my career failures, setbacks and injuries. Through the pain of being traded, cut and having no offers.

“Through the depths of global embarrassment, unmet expectations and crushed dreams. Through it all, I found myself a year ago battered – carrying so much emotional baggage.”

Beijing Ducks offer Jeremy Lin a chance to rebuild career

Last year Lin described himself as at “rock bottom” following NBA free agency. It was then he opted to play in China with the Ducks, where he swiftly became one of the most popular players in the country.

Lin explained he got his game back, listing the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose, knowing the shot is going in and hoping it is going in, and between dreaming big and being consigned to disappointment.

“I couldn’t sleep right for three weeks with this decision weighing over me. I was brought to tears trying to verbalise the struggle to my family. I analysed facts, but the reality is that faith ultimately comes down to taking a step towards what you can’t see yet.

01:19

Jeremy Lin says he has realised his childhood dream in China

“Despite being beyond grateful with so much that the CBA, China, and all my Asia fans gave me this past season, today I decided to not return to the Beijing Ducks next season.

“Instead, I will be waiting for free agency and preparing myself for the NBA – and continuing my greatest dream. And maybe the result is a footnote and this decision today was the true test.

“New chapter, new mindset, new me. Work smarter, aim higher, reach further. And smile along the way!”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: ‘This isn’t about chasing the shadow of Linsanity ... Or about money and fame’

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