 Lin recovered from a patellar ligament injury to his knee during the 2011 NBA lockout . In September 2011 , Lin played a few games for the Chinese Basketball Association ( CBA ) club Dongguan Leopards at the ABA Club Championship in Guangzhou , China , where he was named the MVP of the tournament . Shanghai Sharks president and former NBA star Yao Ming also tried , unsuccessfully , to sign Lin for the upcoming CBA season ; Lin explained that as someone still under contract with the Golden State Warriors , he could not play in the CBA as the league would only admit NBA free agents . A few days before the lockout was lifted on November 26 , Lin had been close to signing with an undisclosed club in Italy . 
