Chiang Ying-ying / Associated Press
The NBA is opening an investigation after playmaker Jeremy Lin said he was called a “coronavirus” when playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, for Shams Charania of Estádio and Atlético.
On Thursday, Lin discussed through a Facebook post the racism that he and other Asian Americans experienced:
Lin, who has played in the NBA for nine seasons, is in his first year in the Golden State G League.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr supported the investigation ahead of his team’s home game against Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
“I agree with your feelings about racism against the Asian American community,” added Kerr, Kendra Andrews from the NBC Sports Bay Area. “It’s just ridiculous.”
Lin discussed his experiences with racism on the court in the past, Former NBA teammate Randy Foye in 2017 in External Shot that opposing fans and players shouted racist comments at him when he played for Harvard from 2006 to 2010.
There was a spike in racist acts against Asians and Asian Americans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Viet Thanh Nguyen highlighting just a few:
Viet Thanh Nguyen @viet_t_nguyen
Jeremy Lin being called a “coronavirus” on the court. A man stabbed in the back recently. This family in Orange County, California, is besieged by about 20 teenagers. People saying “Chinese virus” and “Kung flu”. Anti-Asian violence and racism are all over the country. https://t.co/Oekf5Scphx
CBS News reported that hate crimes against Asians increased 867 percent from 2019 to 2020 in New York City.