Fans have snapped up all 5,000 tickets for Jeremy Lin’s Taiwanese P. League+ debut on Sunday, with the former NBA star’s Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers facing Formosa Taishin Dreamers at Fengshan Arena.
The franchise also said it made more than HK$250,000 in online sales in a single day after its new series of Lin-related merchandise went on sale.
The Steelers, who are bottom of the six-team league, have been on a four-game losing streak since announcing Lin’s arrival late last month.
That included a 110-106 home loss last Friday to the Dreamers, whom they have beaten only once in four meetings this season.
Despite the team’s downward trend, Lin – who last played for Guangzhou Loong Lions in the Chinese Basketball Association – is still sending encouraging messages to his teammates and the fans.“If you focus on the process, you can accept the result,” he said.
Ex-NBA star Lin wants ‘meaningful basketball’ with Taiwan team
Lin added that even if results are not satisfactory, the team do not have to be ashamed if they can establish “100 per cent commitment” in every aspect.
The former NBA champion, who won the Finals with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 – is expected to be the starting point guard for the Steelers.
“His presence on the court improves the ball movement as well as player movement,” Steelers coach Cheng Chih-lung said. “The rhythm of the team has become completely different, which opened everyone’s eyes.”
After Sunday’s game, the Steelers will play away at the Dreamers and Hsinchu JKO Lioneers on February 18 and 25 respectively.
The 34-year-old Lin will then face his younger brother Joseph when his new side play the Kings at Xinzhuang Gymnasium on February 28.
“We never thought we would be playing against each other,” nine-year NBA veteran Lin said. “I am not looking forward to the game at all.”
“Obviously the Kings had been doing great this season and Joseph had a lot of opportunities.
“This year is not the best timing for us to be teammates and as a professional player, I do not want to disrupt his rhythm either. Looking at his current performance, I am very happy for him.”
The 30-year-old Joseph Lin – who joined the Kings last August – is averaging 30 minutes, 13.1 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 17 games this season.
Jeremy Lin, who played for eight NBA teams in his career, also revealed some of his former teammates had been inquiring about playing on the self-ruled island.
“They asked if I can help find an agent,” he said. “From what I actually heard and saw, they have a lot of interest in the league here.”
The former Houston Rockets guard – who played and started all 82 games in the 2012-13 season – added that four former teammates had been asking about playing in Taiwan.
“It is not like the current teams will allow them to depart so let us look forward to the next season,” he said however.
