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11/22/2024 10:55:24 am

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Will Jeremy Lin Ever Play For China or Taiwan at Asian Games or FIBA-Asia Championship?

Houston Rockets' Jeremy Lin goes to the Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo : nba.com)

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin has been busy in the U.S. trying to improve his game for a brand new season. Intense training last summer paid off for him when he shot nearly 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three-point line in his final season with the Houston Rockets.

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However, he could have gained more momentum if he had participated in high-level international competition like FIBA-sanctioned events.

Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and now Anthony Davis. These are the players that used FIBA tournaments as platforms for breakthrough season.

Durant, who won the 2010 FIBA World Cup MVP, went on to become a perennial All-Star and scoring champ, while Rose captured his first MVP award a year later. As for Davis, he has been a monster in the interior for the Americans, leading the Yankees to the semifinal round of the 2014 FIBA World Cup of Basketball in Spain.

Lin could gain tremendous experience if he plays international basketball. Not only that games in FIBA-sanctioned events are way physical, it could also give Lin the privilege to showcase his true mettle against the best teams in the world.

Three years ago in the wake of Linsanity frenzy in New York, there are strong push for the Chinese Taipei basketball organization to enlist Lin as part of their national team for future competitions.

"According to NetEase, Lin has been added to the 24-player training camp roster for the Taiwanese national team. An official announcement was made on Monday by Taiwan Basketball Association chairman, Ting Shou-chung," per report by Taiwanese sports site NIU BBALL.

Other than the Taiwanese team, China has also expressed their interest to add Lin to their roster because of the player's ethnicity as a Chinese.

"It's not only Taiwan, the mainland [China] is also hoping that Lin will represent them in international play," said Ting. "But, playing for China would mean that he'd have to give up his American citizenship and there is no chance of that happening."

"His father is really happy about the opportunity for him to play for Taiwan, but his mother is still hoping that her son will focus on securing long term stability in the NBA," said Ting Shou-Chung, the Taiwanese Basketball Association chairman.

Whether he's going to play for Taiwan or China, the best interest for Lin is to suit for a national team and play at the FIBA Asia Championship or the Asian Games. Taiwan and China are both great basketball teams in the continent, but adding a very crafty point guard and explosive scorer like Lin would give a chance to dominate the competition.


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