Basketball star Jeremy Lin says he was called 'coronavirus' on court, denounces racism against Asians
Basketball star Jeremy Lin said he was called "coronavirus" on the court in a social media post in which he denounced racism against Asian Americans, but he won't name who made the comment.
"Being an Asian American doesn't mean we don't experience poverty and racism," Lin shared on social media late Thursday. "Being a 9-year NBA veteran doesn't protect me from being called 'coronavirus' on the court."
Lin didn't state when the incident took place. The G League is now investigating Lin's claim, ESPN reported.
In a social media post Saturday, Lin said, "I'm not naming or shaming anyone," following news of the investigation.
"What good does it do in this situation for someone to be torn down? It doesn't make my community safer or solve any of our long-term problems with racism," he wrote.
"Listen to the voices that are teaching us how to be anti-racist towards ALL people. Hear other stories, expand your perspective. I believe this generation can be different. But we will need empathy and solidarity to get us there," he added.
The 34-year-old athlete, who formerly played point guard for the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, now plays the NBA's G League team the Santa Cruz Warriors, an affiliate of the Golden State Warriors.
Racist attacks have soared against the Asian community amid the pandemic as COVID-19 first emerged on the global radar in Wuhan, China.
Between March and December last year, the organization Stop Asian American and Pacific Islander Hate recorded nearly 3,000 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents nationwide.
In his Thursday post Lin encouraged the public to speak up against racist behavior in his post.
"We are tired of Asian American kids growing up and being asked where they're REALLY from, of having our eyes mocked, of being objectified as exotic or being told we're inherently unattractive," he wrote.
"We are tired of being invisible, of being mistaken for our colleague or told our struggles aren't as real," he added.
Santa Cruz Warriors officials did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday he wants the NBA to investigate Lin's claim.
"Really powerful. I applaud Jeremy for his words and echo his sentiments regarding racism against the Asian American community," Kerr said per ESPN.
Lin, who was born in California to Taiwanese parents, was the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship in 2019 when the Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors.
