The last few days have been full of big news for many of the bench players on the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 champion team. With Jodie Meeks getting ready to call it a career and Patrick McCaw eyeing one last shot in the NBA, Jeremy Lin is still trying t prolong his basketball career.
Lin, who captured the imagination of the global basketball community with his breakout showing as a New York Knick, has not played in the NBA since winning a title. While he has become a star in China for teams like the Beijing Ducks, his chances of playing in the NBA remain slim.
Lin was faced with two options. He could either take the cheapest NBA deal possible and compete for a roster spot that will guarantee him next to nothing in terms of playing time, or return to China and become a starter again. Lin has officially chosen the second option.
Lin announced that he is going to play in China once again this season, though he will be suiting up for the Guangzhou Loong Lions. At age 34 with a lack of quality NBA offers that will help sway his opinion, it looks like this might be the end of the line for Lin.
Source: Former Warriors champion Jordan Bell signed with the Guangzhou Loong Lions. He joins Jeremy Lin on the team.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 7, 2022
More former NBA players like Michael Beasley and Anthony Bennett signed overseas. Find out where via @TikotDeRoa in our @hoopshype tracker https://t.co/JMDZPGXR3X
Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lin is signing in China.
Lin averaged 7.0 points and 2.6 assists per game with the Raptors, though he saw his responsibility completely slip away from him during the playoffs amid the rotation contraction. Despite slipping a ring on his finger, NBA teams still weren’t clamoring for his services.
Lin averaged 19.0 points per game during his last two seasons with the Ducks. While those are certainly solid numbers, players at his name need to be averaging well over that in China for the NBA to even give him a look. If this is the end of his pro career, he had a fantastic run.
Lin averaged 11.6 points and 4.3 assists per game during his nine-year career, which is exemplary for an undrafted free agent. Had he not suffered some catastrophic injuries in Brooklyn and played just 37 games in two years, he may have had slightly more longevity.
With Simu Liu at his side, Jeremy Lin reflects on his #Raptors tenure:
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) July 9, 2022
“Toronto is one of those cities and one of those experiences I’ll have forever… my heart always feels like it’s here.” pic.twitter.com/4MM8InazqL
Lin might not have been the most productive player on the title team, but his name is going to be forever etched in Toronto history thanks to his exploits on the first-ever Raptors champion. Lin seemed determined to exit the game on his terms rather than seeing his skills diminish.