The Kings are in! New Taipei is BACK in EASL 2024-25

The New Taipei Kings are advancing to the 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Finals and will join the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots to represent the P. LEAGUE+ in the EASL 2024-25 Season.

2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Journey

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The New Taipei Kings’ domestic championship aspirations fell short last season after a defeat to the eventual champions, the Taipei Fubon Braves, in a hard-fought series ending 4-2. However, their presence in the finals secured them a coveted spot in the EASL 2023-24 Season.

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Former NBA star Jeremy Lin’s signing with the Kings in the offseason, uniting with his brother Joseph, injected immediate energy into the team.

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New Taipei tipped off its season by winning its first nine games in the P. LEAGUE+ and the EASL combined. However, the team faced adversity when Jeremy Lin suffered a plantar fascia injury in late January, forcing him to miss 15 of the subsequent 16 games, including the EASL Final Four.

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During this challenging period, the Kings managed to secure only four wins out of 16 games. They lost all three EASL matches that Lin missed, resulting in a fourth-place finish in the EASL Final Four 2024.

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Lin made a triumphant return on April 13 and New Taipei concluded the season strongly, winning seven of their final 11 games. The team ended the year with a commendable 22-18 record, securing third place in the regular season standings.

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In the semifinals, New Taipei faced the second-seeded Dreamers. The Kings looked set for a smooth ride to the finals after taking a 3-1 lead. But the Dreamers mounted a strong comeback with a convincing 96-76 win in Game 5.

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In Game 6, playing at home, the Kings trailed by two points going into the final quarter. Jeremy Lin caught fire in the final frame, going four-of-six from the field to score 10 points and finish with a game-high 33 points. The Kings outscored the Dreamers 29-18 in the fourth quarter to take the game and the series, 97-88, securing a spot in the finals for the second consecutive year.

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Key Players

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1. #7 Jeremy Lin – G

JLin7 is one of the pivotal figures in the Kings’ lineup.

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The New Taipei Kings are 24-11 in the games Jeremy Lin played this season in the P. LEAGUE+ and the EASL. He ranked eighth in P. LEAGUE+ scoring during the regular season, averaging 19.3 points in 24 games. In the EASL, Lin averaged 16.6 points in five games.

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Lin’s consistency persisted through the playoffs, averaging 19.5 points in six games against the Dreamers. This included a series-high 33 points in the Game 6 clincher to help the Kings secure the finals berth and qualify for the EASL in back-to-back seasons.

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In six games against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots this season, Lin averaged 19.8 points per game, including a 37-point effort back in November.

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2. #55 Kenny Manigault  – F

Kenny Manigault has established himself as a key player since joining the Kings in 2022.

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Standing at 6-foot-4, the forward earned himself the title of PLG Steals King last season, averaging 3.52 swipes per game.

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He had a standout moment for the Kings in the 2022-23 season, when he became just the twelfth player in professional basketball history to achieve a quadruple-double. He recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, and 10 steals in a game against the Dreamers in March 2023. His stellar performance last season earned him a spot on the 2022-23 All-PLG Second Team.

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Although his statistics slightly declined this season, Manigault still maintained respectable averages of 16 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.8 steals in 33 regular season games.

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In the semifinals against the Dreamers, the 33-year-old averaged 16.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in six games.

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Manigault’s perimeter defense will be crucial against the Pilots in the finals.

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3. #6 Amigo Yang Chin-Min – F

At 40 years old, Yang Chin-Min is aging like fine wine.

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The Kings’ sharpshooter averaged 13.1 points this season after coming out of retirement and rejoining the team in January.

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Yang, a former P. LEAGUE+ Most Valuable Player in the 2021-22 season, was named to the All-PLG First Team in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

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In the playoffs this year, Yang averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game against the Dreamers.