Joseph Lin cleared to represent Taiwan as local player

Taipei, July 29 (CNA) New Taipei Kings guard Joseph Lin (林書緯), an American-born player of Taiwanese descent, has been cleared to represent Taiwan's national basketball team as a local player, after FIBA approved his national status.

FIBA, the international governing body for basketball, approved Lin's qualification as a local player around the end of the 2024-25 Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) season, the Kings said in a statement Tuesday.

The Kings also thanked the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association for its support and assistance during the process.

Lin, 33, acquired his Taiwan passport in 2020 and had been considered a naturalized player despite his heritage.

Under FIBA rules, players with dual citizenship acquired after the age of 16 are typically classified as naturalized players, and each national team is allowed only one such player on its game-day roster.

In a separate statement issued by his agency, Lin said the Kings were motivated to pursue the status change in preparation for the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia, a tournament organized by FIBA.

"After reviewing my pro career over the past decade, I'm assured that my effort and commitment have earned me recognition in Taiwan basketball, where I have found the place I truly belong," he said.

Lin described his newly acquired local status as a "brand new start," adding that he would continue working hard in his professional career and prepare for opportunities to represent Taiwan on the international stage.

Lin grew up in the United States before beginning his professional career in Taiwan in 2015 with the Fubon Braves (now the Taipei Fubon Braves).

He won P.LEAGUE+ (PLG) championships with the Braves in 2021 and 2022, and later teamed up with his brother Jeremy Lin (林書豪) to help lead the Kings to the PLG title in 2024 and the TPBL title in 2025.

During the 2024-25 TPBL season, Lin averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in about 33 minutes per game. He also recorded a +6.1 plus-minus rating -- the third-highest among non-import players on the team.