Jeremy Lin moves to the Beijing Ducks: The next chapter of “Linsanity”

Seven years after “Linsanity” took over the NBA, Jeremy Lin, 31, has been signed to the Beijing Shougang Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

After a rocky season split between the Atlanta Hawks and then the Toronto Raptors, Lin was a free agent on the NBA market. He garnered just 27 minutes of playtime in the playoffs, which may have contributed to his decision to leave the NBA.

Back in 2012 when he became an international phenomenon as one of the few Asian-American players to make it to the NBA, Lin averaged 27.3 points, leading the Knicks on a seven-game win streak. Sadly, “Linsanity” died down as Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni resigned and Lin suffered a knee injury that required surgery. 

Just last year in Taiwan, Lin reflected on being in the free agency, “In English there’s a saying and it says once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up, but rock bottom just seems to keep getting more and more rock bottom for me. So, free agency has been tough. Because I feel like in some ways the NBA’s kind of given up on me.” Coming from someone who just won a championship with the Toronto Raptors, it may sound hard to believe. However, Lin hasn’t been a regular starter for years. Considering that most of his career might just be a reminder of the “Linsanity” craze he’ll likely never live up to again, it’s understandable that he might feel overshadowed.

Moving to the Beijing Ducks means a reported $3 million salary, which is more than the veteran minimum in the NBA had he received any offers. Moreover, the numerous commercial opportunities will be an exciting perk for the Harvard graduate. On the other hand, the Ducks have already skyrocketed in popularity with the anticipation of Lin’s arrival.

Yes, the NBA teams haven’t shown much interest in the 31-year-old guard who has accumulated head-to-toe injuries that have drained his once-thrilling athleticism. Nevertheless, Lin’s career in basketball is evidently far from over. As the new face of the franchise, will Jeremy Lin meet the expectations of the CBA? Will he lead the Ducks to a fourth CBA title? I guess we’ll see.

“I’ve always known that my journey in some ways would end in China…” he told Radii. 

Featured Image– Jeremy Lin signs for CBA Team Beijing Ducks Courtesy of Radii

By Brendan Wang