Jeremy Lin’s return to the San Francisco Bay Area won’t be happening.
Uproxx reports Lin’s reported deal with the Golden State Warrior’s G League team fell through when the required clearance from FIBA failed to materialize in time.
The International Basketball Federation governs the sport of basketball worldwide. According to the South China Morning Post, the Warriors needed an official letter of clearance from both FIBA and Lin’s former Chinese Basketball Association team, the Beijing Ducks. The Warriors didn’t get either.
Lin himself warned on Friday that speculation of his return to Golden State may have been premature.
“Whoa…Everybody chill…this isn’t what it looks like. No decisions have been made,” Lin tweeted.
While Lin dreams of returning to the NBA, the bottom line is that his popularity in the United States will never be as strong as in China.
Just last month, CBS Sports reported Lin signed a deal with XTep Sports, a Chinese brand for a new sneaker, the JLin One. The two designs available sold out on the first day of the release.
Lin averaged 22.3 points per game and more than five rebounds and five assists per game with the Ducks last season.
“Out here,” he says, “this season has been the closest thing to Linsanity in New York,” Lin said in May to Sports Illustrated.
He has not completely ruled out returning to China.
“For me, I still work hard every day, because I know one day there will be a chance to win, no matter in the NBA, CBA, any other league,” he said during a live stream Saturday.
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