Jeremy Lin closed out the 2018-2019 NBA season as a member of the Toronto Raptors squad that won the season’s championship title. Now, he faces an uncertain future as a free agent. While in Taiwan to take part in a basketball clinic, Lin spoke candidly about his experiences in basketball and the emotional effect that his career has had on him.
In front of a large audience, a visibly upset Lin addressed his ongoing struggles. “Every year it gets harder,” he said. “In English, there’s a saying: once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up. Rock bottom just seems to keep getting more and more rock bottom for me.” (This part of his speech begins approximately 12 minutes into the clip embedded below.)
“Free agency has been tough. I feel like, in some ways, the NBA has kind of given up on me,” he said. “I always knew, if I gave anyone a reason to doubt, they would.”
Later in his speech, he also spoke about his trepidation about his visit to Asia, and his conflicted feelings about his role in the Raptors’ championship season:
After the season, I had to get ready for this Asian trip. It was the last thing I wanted to do, because I knew that, for 6 weeks, I’d have to just put on a smile. I would have to talk about a championship that I don’t feel like I really earned. I’d have to talk about a future that I don’t know if I want to have. Honestly, it’s embarrassing and it’s tough.
As Deadspin’s Barry Petchesky puts it, Lin’s lack of offers from the NBA is a shame. “The NBA is more fun with Jeremy Lin in it,” he writes. “And on a more practical level, he can still be a useful rotation player.”
Deadspin’s report also notes that Lin has attracted interest from CSKA Moscow — which may pay better than a comparable offer from the NBA, but would take him further from home.
Lin’s candor about his ongoing struggles comes at a point when more and more professional athletes are speaking out about their experiences with depression. And while Lin’s emotional address is moving to watch, it’s also very admirable that he feels confident enough about to discuss the subject at length.
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