Jeremy Lin ‘loses 20 pounds’ after long Covid-19 bout as he returns to Beijing Ducks against CBA league leaders Flying Leopards
- The former NBA star opens up about his long battle with Covid-19, isolation and disruptions as he prepares for his CBA return
- Lin is back to active competition this weekend with the Beijing Ducks after a 10-month absence
Jeremy Lin has not had the best year, but the former NBA star will look to turn that around when he returns to Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) team Beijing Ducks on Christmas Day to face league leaders Flying Leopards.
On Monday, the 33-year-old fronted the media for the first time since his return, admitting that his battle with Covid-19, while not serious, had a big impact on his training and preparation.
After re-signing with the CBA team, he arrived back in China in August but tested positive for Covid-19 and had to undergo treatment in hospital.
“The symptoms of Covid-19 did not affect me, but I was isolated for so long and this affected my body the most,” Lin said. “A lot of hard work went to waste and the [league] couldn’t do anything about it. After testing positive, I lost about 20 pounds. That is what affected me the most.”
Lin, who helped take the Ducks to the CBA play-offs in the 2019-20 season, returned to China earlier this year after failing to land an NBA contract. The veteran player had spent a season in the NBA’s G League where he turned in some impressive performances. But no franchise came in for him.