Film chronicles Lin Chih-chieh’s basketball journey

A new documentary about retired basketball star Lin Chih-chieh premiered in Taipei on Tuesday, tracing his journey from a young player who twice walked away from the sport to become an athlete widely admired for his discipline and longevity.

Titled The Beast, which is also Lin’s nickname, the film follows Lin’s career with Taiwan Beer, China’s Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, the Taiwanese national team and the Taipei Fubon Braves, while exploring the change in his approach to the game.

Widely considered the greatest Taiwanese basketball player, Lin retired in June following the Braves’ 107-81 defeat to the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in Game 7 of the P.League+ Finals, drawing to a close an illustrious career that spanned more than two decades.

Retired Taipei Fubon Braves player Lin Chih-chieh, right, and Braves head coach Hsu Chin-che pose for a photograph at the premier of The Beast, a movie about Lin’s career, at the Eslite Cinema in Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on Tuesday.

Photo: CNA

No other Taiwanese player has matched the longevity of Lin’s career, sports broadcaster Marc Tien says in the documentary.

That was not always easy to foresee.

The film recounted how Lin left the sport in high school and again in college before finding his way back to the game.

During his early years with Taiwan Beer in the semi-professional Super Basketball League (SBL), there was a period when he rarely turned up at the court before noon, sports journalist Huang Chi-jen says in the film.

Former Taiwan Beer captain Hsu Hao-cheng, who was responsible for driving Lin to the court, describes having a “love-hate relationship” with his teammate.

Lin says in the documentary that his move to China’s professional league was a turning point.

In unfamiliar surroundings and with few outlets for his emotions, he turned to training, he said.

When he returned to Taiwan during the offseason a year later, former Taiwan Beer teammates said he had become a different person.

Lin joined Taiwan Beer in 2003, moved to Zhejiang Guangsha in 2009 and returned to Taiwan to play for the Braves in 2019.

A member of Taiwan’s “Golden Generation,” Lin won two SBL titles with Taiwan Beer in 2007 and 2008, and three consecutive P.League+ championships with the Braves from 2021 to 2023.

Lin said the film brought back memories of teammates and different stages of his career.

“There are difficult times and low points, but you have to believe in yourself and be willing to face challenges,” he said.

Planning for the documentary began in late 2024 and the production team interviewed more than 50 people, including family members, coaches and former teammates, the Braves said.

The documentary is to debut on streaming platform MyVideo early next month before becoming available on the Braves’ YouTube channel after the team’s home-opening week. Lin’s No. 12 jersey is to be retired at a ceremony on Nov. 14.