Jeremy Lin to Play in G League Bubble for Santa Cruz Warriors

Former NBA point guard Jeremy Lin has agreed to a deal with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team has confirmed. Santa Cruz are the G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors.

This move had been a number of weeks in the making, as Lin had planned to sign with the Golden State Warriors. However, the Warriors didn’t receive Lin’s Letter of Clearance from FIBA on time. This led to a delay in proceedings.

The 32-year-old spent the 2019-20 season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Beijing Ducks. Where he averaged 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, on 49.1% shooting. From 3-point land he shot at a 33.8% rate.

(Image/Fred Lee/Getty Images)

He had initially agreed to a move that would allow him to be signed and waived by the Warriors, through an Exhibit-10 contract, so that he could land with Santa Cruz. Which he has ended up doing anyway, through the new NBA veteran exception rule.

The former Knicks standout joins Santa Cruz in the hope of resurrecting his once-promising NBA career. He will join the team in an Orlando-based bubble that commences on February 9. The bubble will be based in Disney World, on the same campus that the end of the 2019-20 NBA season took place

The Return of Linsanity?:

Most NBA fans will remember Lin from his time with the New York Knicks when “Linsanity” was born. During a six-game span in 2012, he exploded for an average of 26.8 points and 8.5 assists. This short span catapulted Lin into worldwide fame and created the well-renowned phrase.

The 6-foot-3 guard has had a healthy NBA career to date, but was never able to recreate the perfect storm that occurred in New York. Aside from the Knicks, Lin has also featured for the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn Nets.

His return to the Warriors, where his career in the NBA started, is a bittersweet moment. In addition, it marks a homecoming for the 2019 NBA Champion.

Lin was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. He played high-school basketball at Palo Alto High school, before playing at the college level with Harvard. He holds the illustrious honor of being the first American, of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, to play in the NBA.

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G League Ignite Head Coach Brian Shaw Provides Jeremy Lin Update

In a post-scrimmage media availability with reporters on December 15, G League Ignite Head Coach Brian Shaw spoke about Jeremy Lin. Shaw touched upon Lin’s involvement with the team and his current status.

“Jeremy actually just joined us. He hasn’t had a chance to practice with the team yet. Today was his first day,” Shaw said, in contrary to various reports that suggested Lin had been practicing with Ignite over the weekend.

Shaw continued by saying that Lin featured very briefly in Ignite’s 113-107 loss to a G League alumni side on Tuesday. “I threw him in there for maybe 3 minutes, just to kind of get a feel. He’ll play a bit more on Thursday.”

(Image/Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

Further Involvement and an NBA Return:

Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Co are set for another scrimmage game on Thursday, December 17, where they will face-off against the same alumni team. Shaw confirmed that Lin would be involved, and also mentioned the instant impact he is having with the team.

“Already after the game, he spoke to the team and talked about what he saw. That’s what we brought him in for, and Amir Johnson and Bobby Brown. To give that type of leadership and mentorship to our young guys.”

Jeremy Lin is currently a free-agent after showing out for the Beijing Ducks in the 2019-20 season. Where he featured 39 times, posting averages of 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.8 steals. This was on 49.1% shooting from the field, and 33.8% from 3-point land.

Upon the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign, Lin has expressed his interest in making an NBA return. The 32-year-old was part of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship winning side.

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G League Ignite Set for More Scrimmages, Jeremy Lin Practicing With Team

In November, the new G League Ignite team for elite prospects took part in multiple scrimmages against G League alumni. The scrimmages were described by Ignite veteran, Reggie Hearn, as being “controlled” contests. In order to practice set plays and get the team game-ready.

A report by Shams Charania of The Athletic did suggest that the Ignite team would play in two scrimmages in December that were due to be streamed for public consumption. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, more scrimmages are planned for December 15 and 17.

The contests will take place at the Ignite’s Walnut Creek base in California. It is uncertain whether these are the streamed scrimmages that Charania previously reported, however.

(Image/Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Further Details and a Jeremy Lin Appearance:

NBA scouts will not be in attendance, but teams will have access to film to watch back. As all eyes are set on Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Daishen Nix. Who all look set to be lottery selections in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Givony did provide further detail, stating that Isaiah Briscoe, Tariq Owens, DJ Hogg, and Bryce Alford will be among the G League alumni that Ignite will be facing.

As per Adam Zagoria, Jeremy Lin has been practicing with the Ignite team ahead of the December scrimmages. Lin, who is a free-agent, looks to have been keeping in game-shape and passing on his knowledge to the elite prospects over the past weekend.

Now 32-years-old, Lin has featured in over 400 NBA contests. For the Houston Rockets (2012-2014), Los Angeles Lakers (2014/15), Charlotte Hornets (2015/16), Brooklyn Nets (2016/18), Atlanta Hawks (2018/19), and Toronto Raptors (2018/19).

Following a championship victory with the Raptors, he headed overseas and signed for the Beijing Ducks for the 2019-20 Chinese Basketball Association campaign.

Lin showed out for the Ducks 39 times, posting averages of 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.8 steals. On 49.1% shooting from the field, and 33.8% from 3-point land.

The Ducks ended up being eliminated in the semifinals of the playoffs, to the eventual champions, the Guangdong Southern Tigers. Upon the conclusion of the season, Lin set his eyes on an NBA return.

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Stay up-to-date with the latest from the NBA G League, as well as with the development of future elite prospects from around the world, by following Call-Ups on all social media channels.

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Looking Back at Jeremy Lin’s Time in the D-League

After a record-breaking college career at Harvard came to an end in 2010, Jeremy Lin had his eyes firmly set on the NBA. Lin spent all 4-years at Harvard, becoming the first player in Ivy League history to record at least 1,450 points (1,483), 450 rebounds (487), 400 assists (406), and 200 steals (225).

However, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft and joined the Dallas Mavericks for Summer League. Where he impressed and earned NBA contracts from the Mavericks, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and an unknown team from the East.

Lin decided to stay in his native California, signing a 2-year deal with the Warriors. His NBA career commenced.

(Image/nbagleague/YouTube)

Lin’s Rookie Season:

In his debut season (2010/11), Lin only featured in 29 games in the NBA. Averaging just 2.6 points, in 9.8 minutes per game. Instead he was frequently assigned to the then D-League, with the Reno Bighorns (now the Stockton Kings).

He was assigned 3 times and featured in a total of 20 D-League contests. 10 starts and 10 off the bench. Averaging 18 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals on the season.

Lin’s steals per game (2.1) and defensive efficiency (100.6) were the 6th highest in the D-League at the time. With his player efficiency rating (21.0) sitting 7th-best league-wide.

Each time Lin was assigned he was recalled by his parent team. Although, he did compete in the NBA D-League Showcase, being named to the All-NBA D-League Showcase First Team.

The Bighorns finished with a 32-18 record on the season, and sat top of the Western Conference. Lin’s D-League teammates included Danny Green, Hassan Whiteside, and Steve Novak. However, the team lost in the playoff semi-finals, 2-0, to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Moving East:

Following the season, the Warriors waived Lin. Who then featured for the Houston Rockets in the 2011/12 pre-season, but was waived again before the start of the campaign. Consequently, the New York Knicks signed Lin.

This was the season of the NBA lockout, which was shortened to 66 games. Just 6 games into the season, Lin found himself again being assigned to the D-League. This time for a short spell. A very short one.

Whilst representing the Erie BayHawks on January 20, 2012, Lin erupted for 28 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. On 52.9% shooting from the field. This was in a 122-113 victory over the Maine Red Claws.

Subsequently, Lin was swiftly recalled to the NBA and shortly after Linsanity occurred.

Ever since his D-League exploits, Lin has featured in over 400 NBA contests. Going onto represent the Houston Rockets (2012-2014), Los Angeles Lakers (2014/15), Charlotte Hornets (2015/16), Brooklyn Nets (2016/18), Atlanta Hawks (2018/19), and Toronto Raptors (2018/19).

With the latter, Lin became the first Asian-American to win an NBA title. The first championship of his career.

Now 31-years-old, Lin signed a $3 million deal with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association for the 2019/20 season. In 24 contests, Lin has averages of 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.

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