In recent days Taiwan media have reported extensively on rumors that Jeremy Lin is set to join the Kaohsiung Steelers in the P. LEAGUE+, though the team's General Manager Kenny Kao (???) declined to respond to questions from CNA English on Friday, citing a busy schedule with preparations for upcoming games and end of year budget meetings.

The speculation comes in the wake of the Steelers previously saying they were trying to sign Lin in July.

Even though it has been over a decade since the "Linsanity" craze, Jeremy Lin has been the talk of Taiwan since he announced his departure from China's Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Thursday, with excitement building over the possibility he could join a Taiwanese team.

The 34-year-old guard made the announcement on his social media accounts that day after only playing seven games this CBA season, thanking the league, the Guangzhou Loong Lions club, and the fans, adding that he is going to "go back to the U.S. to rest and reset" before deciding his next step with his family.

The post started speculation in Taiwan about the possibility of Lin choosing the country as his "next step," given that the achievements of the second-generation Taiwanese American still resonate locally, especially among the basketball community.

Lin gained a huge following in Taiwan after he took the basketball scene by storm in 2012, and while that backing has moderated in recent years, he would likely still be a big hit with any Taiwanese club, given how many fans support him on his social media accounts.

Whatever team he joins or for how much money, there's still going to be pressure like 'oh why didn't you score 20'

Ryan Chen, Taiwan professional basketball league P. LEAGUE+ English broadcaster, told CNA Friday it would be "kind of a big deal" if Lin joined a professional basketball team in Taiwan as he is a household name for Taiwanese fans.

Lin is also likely to bring more sustained attention to Taiwanese basketball from fans around the region and Taiwanese Americans, who will be traveling between the two countries, Chen said.

However, despite the fanfare, Lin will still face pressure if he decides to play in Taiwan as teams and fans will expect him to play at a certain level.

"Whatever team he joins or for how much money, there's still going to be pressure like 'oh why didn't you score 20,'" Chen said.

The good thing is that as a dynamic scorer in his prime, Lin has a chance to add to the excitement of P. LEAGUE+ games, which have high intensity defense, Chen added.

If we were able to bring a person of the stature of Jeremy Lin here, the excitement at our games would even triple compared to what it's now

Bringing the excitement to games is also something that is seen as valuable in the T1 LEAGUE, Taiwan's other professional basketball league.

"I hope he comes to us to be honest," Taichung Suns head coach Chris Gavina told CNA Friday. "If we were able to bring a person of the stature of Jeremy Lin here, the excitement at our games would even triple compared to what it's now."

Gavina, T1 LEAGUE's first Filipino head coach, said Lin is extremely popular in the Philippines and "Linsanity" was an achievement not just for himself but for the entire Asian community worldwide, where Asians could connect to a player in the NBA of their own heritage.

"His positive effect here in Taiwan would allow him to become a beacon of hope to the next generation of basketball players in Taiwan. I feel he would symbolize what persistence, sacrifice and faith in yourself can help you achieve in life," Gavina said.

The buzz generated by Lin playing in Taiwan will generate larger viewership across the world and the region, Gavina added.

So, Lin would probably bring more Taiwanese fans to watch and care more about Taiwanese basketball

Meanwhile, off the court, basketball fans in Taiwan, including 48-year-old New Taipei resident Daniel Wu (???) are also excited about the possibility of Lin coming to Taiwan.

"I think it would be great, look what Dwight Howard has done for the T1 LEAGUE, I had never watched a T1 LEAGUE game until Howard joined the Leopards. So, Lin would probably bring more Taiwanese fans to watch and care more about Taiwanese basketball," Wu told CNA.

Eight-time NBA All Star Dwight Howard joined the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 LEAGUE in November.

Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Wu said most Asian Americans rooted for Lin in his rookie year with the Golden State Warriors, but once "Linsanity" started in New York, the whole Asian American community jumped on the bandwagon and felt proud of his accomplishment.

When one of us, one of our people, comes back after being successful overseas, people will look up to that person

Another basketball fan, 43-year-old Alvin Chang, from Taipei, told CNA he thinks Lin will bring a lot to the game if he still has passion for basketball because of his extensive experience playing in the NBA and the CBA.

"When one of us, one of our people, comes back after being successful overseas, people will look up to that person," Chang said.

Lin rose to fame in 2012 with the New York Knicks when he became the first American of Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA and inspired the "Linsanity" craze, which kickstarted when he dropped 38-points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to win an electrifying home game at Madison Square Garden.

Since playing his rookie year for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA's 2010-2011 season, Lin has also played in the NBA G League, the NBA's official minor league basketball organization, and the CBA.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel