Jeremy Lin: ‘Still no setbacks, everything is going to plan’

Jeremy Lin is not coming back this season. That said, the Nets point guard looked like he’s ahead of schedule in his rehab the other night in Oakland when he took to the court during shootaround.

It was a bit of a surprise. And considering that previous reports suggested he wouldn’t be running or jumping until next month, positive news.

In an interview with the Nets website, Lin expressed enthusiasm and optimism about his rehab that has him “commuting” between Fortius Sport & Health in Burnaby, BC, outside Vancouver, and the Nets training facility (and the Hospital for Special Surgery.)

“It felt good, I mean it wasn’t the first time, I’ve been doing it for a bit. It felt good to do it on an NBA floor [though],” Lin told Alex Labidou. “I feel really good. Still no setbacks, everything is going to plan – the time we set in the beginning. I really can’t complain, it’s been a lot smoother of a process than I anticipated.”

Contrast Lin, who ruptured his patella tendon on Opening Night, with Gordon Hayward, who blew out his ACL the night before. Hayward’s father told the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, “He’s working his tail off and if he could play that would be great but I don’t think that’s really possible. He’s not even running or jumping yet.”

Also contrast the shootaround and his comments those during an interview with Nets beat writers a little more than a month ago. Asked about the status of his recovery that night, Lin declined to get into specifics, including whether he has engaged in any basketball activities. He did say that he expects to be ready when training camp opens in September, adding, “Shoot, if I’m not, there’s issues.”

Lin told Labidou he’s still hitting the Vancouver-Brooklyn circuit and wanted to join the team out on the west coast to talk with his teammates.

“Yeah it’s been hard, I’m not there day-to-day. I don’t get to talk to them as it happens but I definitely have conversations [with them] -- whether it’s through text or phone or when I see them in person. I have had a lot of conversations with a lot of people since I’ve been back over the past two days. Just kind of me telling them, this is what I see from a distance and hearing what they had to say. I wish I could be more of a part of it, but I have my own thing that I have to take care of right now.”

He also got to talk with the Nets new minority owner, Joe Tsai, who has called Lin “my favorite player.” Both are of Taiwanese heritage.

Lin turns 30 this summer and in various interviews, he’s said he hopes to be in better shape, with less pain, noting that the surgery, performed by Nets medical director Dr. Riley J. Williams III, not only repaired his patella tendon, but cleared up some “loose bodies” that had been causing him knee discomfort. Lin has already opted to his contract year, officially turning ing the paperwork a few hours after the trade deadline passed.

• JEREMY LIN: BROOKLYN NETS Q & A - Alex Labidou - Brooklyn Nets