Basketball was that light.
Before the ZJBA qualifiers began, the coach of Team Rui’an reached out, inviting him to make a comeback. Carrying self-doubt, he returned to the long-missed court.
Although his legs still felt weak at the time and his performance fell short of his own expectations, the sheer joy of being back on the court solidiffed his resolve to keep playing.
◎ Driven by Passion, Rewarded with Achievements
After the qualifiers, Lin Wanpeng joined Team Wenzhou, and reunited with a significant mentor in his life — his coach at university and now head coach of Wenzhou, Lou Jianqiang. Encouraged by Lou, Lin threw himself into high-intensity strength and conditioning training. Months of perseverance paid off. His legs now feel stronger, and his presence on the court is more assured. When he executed a dunk again, his teammates erupted in applause. His signature“ Wenzhou hot pot” blocks are swift and fierce, striking fear into opponents.
He and captain Yang Xilong are playfully dubbed the “Two Veteran Masters” by fans. Their coordination forms the backbone of Wenzhou’s defense, repeatedly saving the team from the edge of defeat. As netizens rightly note, the scoreboard cannot quantify the true value of these“ two masters”.
In October 2025, during an away game against Jinhua, Lin earned his first ZJBA MVP honor. He admitted that MVPs often favor high scorers, so this recognition serves as motivation to improve in all aspects, including scoring and rebounding, striving to be worthy of the accolade. True to his word, statistics show that he ranks among the top ten in average assists per game across the entire ZJBA.
Now playing for Wenzhou, Lin shoulders additional responsibilities: executing the coach’s strategies, managing the team’s rhythm, and fostering camaraderie among players. Emotions often run high on the court. Whenever younger teammates are on the verge of conflict, Lin is always the first to step in, shielding his teammates and diffusing tensions. He sees this as his duty as an elder brother and a mentor.
