Former NBA star Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is to arrive in Taiwan on Saturday, he said yesterday, adding that he hopes he could play his first game with the Kaohsiung Steelers on Feb. 12.
Lin made the comments in a social media post, in which he also apologized to his fans in Taiwan, saying he would not be able to sign any autographs at the airport due to COVID-19 restrictions.
He is expected to practice social distancing from Saturday through Saturday next week, during which he would not be able to go to a basketball arena, he said.
Photo: CNA
That would also prevent him from playing against his younger brother, New Taipei Kings guard Joseph Lin, when their P.League+ teams play on Saturday next week.
The Steelers’ management have not yet said whether Jeremy Lin would play against the Taishin Dreamers on Feb. 12.
In the T1 League, Philippine professional basketball player Robert Bolick is set to join a Taiwanese team, according to online reports, following speculation after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) standout missed the first three games of the league’s Governors’ Cup.
“Multiple sources confirmed to Daily Tribune that the star playmaker had already started packing his bags for a short assignment in the professional league in Taiwan,” the English-language Philippine newspaper said in an online report on Sunday.
Bolick’s stint in Taiwan is expected to be “very short,” as he might return to the PBA by May, the report said.
Philippine sports news and social media blog Fastbreak.com.ph on Monday said that Bolick’s contract with the NorthPort Batang Pier expired on Tuesday and his reported deal with a T1 League team is only until May.
On Instagram, Midnight Sports said that Bolick was joining the Taichung Suns.
The Suns on Tuesday did not confirm the news, but said it would soon make an official statement about the rumor.
The 27-year-old 1.82m-tall guard, who has played for the Philippines national team, averaged 10 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 19.4 minutes over two games in the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers last year.
In the PBA this season, he emerged as the top local scorer in the Commissioner’s Cup, which ended last month, posting an average of 21.67 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 41.24 minutes over 12 games with the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Also set to join the T1 League is former San Miguel Alab Pilipinas forward Nick King, who is to play for the New Taipei CTBC DEA, the team said on Monday.
The 2.03m-tall King, 27, played for Alab in the ASEAN Basketball League’s 2019-2020 season, which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
King, who is from the US and also known as “Simba,” played in the NBA G League for the Windy City Bulls this season and the Maine Celtics in 2018-2019.
King, who started practicing with the team on Monday, said in a video posted online that his new team has the potential to win the championship.
“I just love the chemistry and the energy the team brings. I see us as a young and exciting team,” he said. “They’ve got some great players all around. I’m ready to meet the coaching staff, I’m just excited to get the journey started to try to bring the championship here.”
On the court, the Taoyuan Pilots on Tuesday won their eighth consecutive home game in the P.League+, topping the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers 88-70 at Taoyuan Arena.
Lioneers forward Anthony Bennett emerged as the top scorer, posting 30 points, with 17 rebounds and three assists, while Pilots center Jeff Ayres had 21 points, 14 rebounds and one assist.
The Pilots are second in the six-team league standings with a 12-4 record, behind the New Taipei Kings.
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