BASKETBALL/In 'final dance,' Braves veteran Lin Chih-chieh set to make season debut

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Lin Chih-chieh (林志傑), widely regarded as the greatest player in Taiwan's basketball history, is set to make his 2025-26 P.LEAGUE+ season debut for the Taipei Fubon Braves this weekend in his return from a serious wrist injury.

The Braves announced Lin's return via social media on Tuesday, confirming that the 43-year-old shooting guard will suit up for the team's first two home games of 2026.

The Braves are scheduled to face the Tainan TSG Hawks on Saturday and the Yankey Ark Professional Basketball Team on Sunday.

Lin's career appeared to be in jeopardy in May after he broke his left wrist during Game 7 of the PLG Finals.

Given his stated plan to retire, many feared the injury would mark the end of his professional journey, but Lin decided to return for "one more year," officially making the 2025-26 season his "Last Dance."

"Chih-chieh did not want to retire on the heels of an injury. He wants to play until the end and help the team win," Braves general manager Roger Hsu (許晉哲) said in October.

Lin's legendary career began in 2003 with Taiwan Beer in the Super Basketball League (SBL), which was then the nation's top-tier competition.

He transferred to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 2009 to play for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions before returning home to join the Braves in 2019. During his sting in China, he was named an all-star seven times.

A cornerstone of the "Golden Generation" of Taiwanese basketball, Lin's trophy cabinet includes two SBL titles and three straight PLG championships from 2021 to 2023.

To honor his legacy, the Braves will host "Lin's Retirement Series" at the Taipei Arena on April 11 and 12, 2026, when the team plays its final two home games of the regular season.