NEW TAIPEI CITY (Chinese Taipei) - For Mike Singletary, April 27 was much more than a game. It was a return to something he feared might have been lost forever.
"Just keep working hard. If you love basketball, it will love you back."
After over a year away from the court due to a devastating injury, the 36-year-old forward finally made his competitive comeback - and fittingly, it happened against the New Taipei Kings, a team he knew all too well from his years with the Taipei Fubon Braves.
"Honestly, I'm just happy to be back, happy to be on the court to be able to play the game that I love," Singletary said after his BCL Asia-East debut for Thailand's Hitech Basketball Club. "Regardless of how many points I scored, I was just happy to be out there."
He did, however, end up scoring 27 points to lead all scorers to go with 11 rebounds - even if Hitech were unable to come away with a win.
It wasn't an easy path to a comeback. After suffering what he says is the worst injury of his career, Singletary’s comeback was fueled by quiet milestones - walking again, running, jumping, and finally shooting - all small victories that built into one big return.
"When your doctor tells you you can't walk normal for months, that's hard," he said in an interview prior to his debut. "But when you start feeling confident again, that’s when you know you're coming back. Just celebrating the small wins helped."
Facing New Taipei stirred emotions he couldn't hide. Tears welled up as he fought through the flood of memories and the raw gratitude of simply being back.
"It's been a long, long time since I've been able to do that," he admitted. "This past year's been a really hard year for me. To come out and play the way we played as a team, I'm extremely grateful and blessed."
Though Singletary downplayed his own performance, he didn't shy from praising the Kings - a team he respected but knew inside out.
"I know them all so well. They're a good team for a reason. Ryan's got them really well coached. But it’s not surprising to me."
Aside from his full circle moment in Chinese Taipei, his comeback with a Thai club is also significant. Singletary starred with Mono Vampire Basketball Club from 2016 to 2020 - even playing in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2017 and 2018, so his return to Thai basketball carries a personal weight.
"It's really cool, kind of like full circle," he said before the tournament. "To be back in Thailand, to see people I’ve known for so long - it's special."
The injury changed his perspective on the game he loves. At times, he questioned if he'd ever return. Now, he's here, determined to give everything back.
"They can expect somebody who's going to play hard, lead by example, and do everything to elevate the team,” Singletary said of what Hitech fans should expect. "The goal is always to win, but it’s a process... but I think we can have a good result."
Other than the on-court performances and results, Hitech fans already know what to expect from the fan favorite off the court. They know that he's always willing to engage with fans, especially the younger ones, and share some of his wisdom.
Which is exactly what he did before one of Hitech's training sessions, reconnecting with a young fan who has followed him since he was with his former Thai club.
Singletary gave advice to the young aspiring player: "Just keep working hard. If you love basketball, it will love you back."
Spoken by a man who fought for his second chance - and won.
FIBA