P. LEAGUE+ & T1 LEAGUE/Jeremy Lin to arrive in Taiwan next week to join Kaohsiung Steelers

Taipei, Jan. 28 (CNA) Former NBA sensation Jeremy Lin, who recently announced he is joining the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in Taiwan's professional P. LEAGUE+, is scheduled to arrive in the country next week, the Taiwanese American said on his social media account Saturday.

"I want to be very honest in telling everyone my plans because I don't want any miscommunication. As of what I know, I will be flying to Taiwan next week, but I don't know which day as I will need some time to meet my teammates, fit into the (team's) system, and get prepared physically," Lin said on Instagram.

He has not played an official basketball game for about two months and hopes to get into good physical shape to avoid the risk of injury and play his best for fans, Lin said, adding that he cannot be sure when he will play his first game for the Steelers.

"You probably heard rumors about when I will play, but I am not sure, and I promise to let you all know as soon as I find out. If you don't hear it from me, please do not believe it," Lin remarked.

He is working hard every day to be ready to play, Lin added.

"KaoHsiung, here I come!" Lin, whose parents are from Taiwan, said in an Instagram post on Thursday that featured an image of him wearing a mockup of his new team's jersey bearing his trademark no. 7.

In a statement on Thursday, the Steelers said the 34-year-old veteran signed with the southern port city club.

Speculation about Lin possibly signing with a Taiwanese team began last year as questions about his performance and playing time in the CBA started to appear.

The total points scored in his second season in the CBA playing for the Beijing Ducks in the 2021-2022 period dropped to 309 points in 507 minutes over 23 games from his previous performance in 2019-2020 of 871 points over 1,252 minutes over 39 games.

Furthermore, out of the seven games Lin played for the Guangzhou Loong Lions before leaving the CBA this season, there were two games where he only played for four minutes each.

Lin gained a huge following in Taiwan after he took the basketball scene by storm over a decade ago, and while that backing has moderated in recent years, he would likely still be a big hit with any Taiwanese club, given how many fans support him on his social media accounts.

Lin became the first American of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA in 2010-2011 and shot to fame in 2012 with the New York Knicks.

The ensuing "Linsanity" craze started when Lin dropped 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers during an electrifying home win at Madison Square Garden.

His addition to the PLG is likely to bring more attention to Taiwan basketball from basketball fans across Asia and the world.