Jeremy Lin tells Trevor Noah he’s ‘not retiring from basketball’ after NBA snub, deciding what’s next
- ‘I realise the NBA door really is just not opening. I don’t know what’s next. I’m trying to figure that out,’ Linsanity star says
- ‘It wasn’t my official retirement,’ 32-year-old tells Trevor Noah in appearance on The Daily Show
Jeremy Lin might not be playing in the NBA any time soon but he has moved to end speculation that his recent post on social media meant he has walked away from basketball.
“It wasn’t my official retirement but it was definitely something where I am kind of realising that there’s not much else I can do to prove that I belong in the NBA,” he told Noah.
“So every challenge that I’ve been given, every ask of me ... I’ve done and performed well so for me it’s kind of realinsing hey, it doesn’t really matter what I do, there’s not much else that I could do to earn a spot or even a chance to fight for a spot.
“That was my way of saying I don’t think this door is opening, it’s closed and that it was kind of passing the torch to the next generation.
“But in many ways honestly it hurts because I feel like I do deserve it but it’s also a celebration in many ways. Hey, it’s time for the next generation and there’s going to be plenty of Asian-American players better than me down the road.”
‘No regrets,’ says Jeremy Lin after NBA snub
Lin had told fans that he was not necessarily retiring from the sport in an Instagram story in the hours after his original post.
“But basically look I’m not saying I’m gonna retire from basketball today,” the 32-year-old told fans in a video message.
“I do know the NBA door, I realise the NBA door really is just not opening. I don’t know what’s next. I’m trying to figure that out.”
Lin has been busy since he posted on the NBA turning its back on him earlier this week.
Aside from the The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah, Lin joined fellow NBA champions Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson for episode 85 of their All The Smoke podcast, where he discussed his career and anti-Asian racism in the US.
These came ahead of launching a limited-edition collaboration with the NBA G League and The Hundreds clothing brand next week.
The G League said that it was “in honour of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month” on Twitter.
“A portion of the proceeds from the collab will be donated to Stop AAPI Hate,” they added.
Lin hints at NBA retirement but he’s no longer shy and retiring
Lin starred in the G League season with the Golden State-affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors but he was not offered an NBA contract, ending his dream of a return to the league.
Longer term there has been speculation that Lin may return to the court in China where he played for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association in the 2019-20 season.
Lin impressed with the Ducks, taking them to the play-offs, and he is reported to be in contact with a number of CBA teams.
