Jeremy Lin tells Chinese fans ‘I’ll be back some day’ after G League move confirmed

‘Linsanity’ star confirmed for Santa Cruz Warriors in NBA G League ahead of new season in February

‘Regardless of success, I don’t know what I’ll do next year,’ CBA star says of possible return to Beijing Ducks

Reading Time:3 minutes

Jeremy Lin in action for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association 2019-20 season. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 4:47pm, 10 Jan 2021Updated: 10:16pm, 10 Jan 2021

Fresh from officially signing for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League on Saturday, Jeremy Lin has told Chinese fans it is not his dream to stay in the development league, and that he’s still aiming to return to the NBA.

“My dream is not to stay in the G league,” Lin said in a live Q&A with his Chinese fans on social media. “If I play well, NBA teams will want to sign me and I can join whichever NBA team who wants me, although I am playing in the Warriors’ G league team.”

Lin took fan questions on Douyin, the Chinese-language version of TikTok, in a 30-minute session that took in a wide range of topics beyond his immediate future in the G League.

The 32-year-old, who established himself as a fan favourite with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association last season, told fans that he was still chasing his NBA dream even though it was a difficult decision.

Lin said that the two most painful things about his decision to leave the CBA were that he cannot play in front of Chinese fans, which is why he took four months to decide, and it is hard to give up on the Ducks. The former “Linsanity” star said that he remains in touch with his former Ducks teammates and coaches on a daily basis.