Taipei: Taiwan basketball star Benson Lin Ting-chien has returned home to join the TPBL's Taipei Taishin Mars after six productive seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). At a press conference on Thursday, Lin shared his ambitions and enthusiasm for his return to Taiwan, expressing his excitement and goal of winning a championship with the Mars.According to Focus Taiwan, Lin's return is significant as he is 26 and coming off his best CBA season. Unlike other Taiwanese players from the "golden generation" who returned home later in their careers, Lin has established himself as a top guard on Taiwan's men's national team and one of the most successful players in China's top professional basketball league. In the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, earning All-CBA Second Team honors.Lin will be joining a Mars team that finished sixth in the seven-team league during the 2025-2026 TPBL regular season with an 11-25 record. The franchise, established in 2 023, has yet to win a title, with its best result coming in its inaugural 2023-2024 season when it reached the T1 League finals but finished as runner-up. Mars General Manager Chris Lin stated that the club had been in contact with Lin since its establishment and shared the mutual goal of winning a championship.The general manager did not confirm reports of Lin earning up to NT$60 million (US$2 million) annually, only noting that Lin had signed a multiyear contract with an overseas opt-out clause. The Mars are open to Lin pursuing international opportunities in the future, emphasizing that his value lies in his contribution to Taiwan basketball.Returning home also allows Lin to engage in rural outreach through the Lin Cheng-ming Charity Basketball Association, named after his late father. At Thursday's event, Lin honored his father's memory by wearing a suit his father wore during a significant high school championship victory, hoping it would bring good luck to the Mars in the new season.