From the Bay to Taiwan, Walter Lum Earns His Shot

3 Minute read

By: Andrea Aruino

Walter Lum has been involved and committed to basketball for as long as he could remember. Before recently becoming a pro overseas in Taiwan, Lum’s journey began in the Bay Area where he was born and raised. After a four-year Varsity career at Lick-Wilmerding High School, Lum began his collegiate career at Skyline College in San Bruno and spent his final three seasons of collegiate basketball at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

Lum proved his readiness to go pro. He finished his final season at Whitman with 328 points, 97 assists, and 91 rebounds while averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. On top of these achievements, he led his team to the Northwest Conference Championship in 2018-19. After graduating in 2023, Lum found his way back to the city he grew up in and was consistently working on perfecting his skills.

He spent the two years before moving to Taiwan working on his shot, defense, and mind. He was in the gym for countless hours, each day he spent his early mornings and late nights working on what many teams were eager to add to their roster. 

What Lum did not expect during this time were the countless phone calls made and hurdles in order to secure a Taiwanese passport, as the entire process took two years before securing it. While it was tedious work to find the required papers, Lum was pleasantly surprised to learn about family history that he had never learned about.

“I had to find certain documents about my great grandmother, like her coming over on a ship from China to the U.S. which was something we had to prove. It was some of the most random documents in my eyes. There’s so much you have to establish [including] who my parents and my grandparents were. It is a tough process but at least I get something out of it like learning more about my family,” Lum said. 

Now that he had his passport, he finally had the chance to go back to Taiwan and commit his time to finding a team that was fit for him. His agent set up workouts with several teams and eventually the team he is currently on, the New Taipei CTPC DEA, offered him a contract. The New Taipei team resides in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) which consists of seven teams. Lum’s team currently stands as the second seed with a record of 4-2. 

Before solidifying a spot on the roster, Lum was a Player and Development Coach at UPBasketball. During his time here he was able to observe the ways in which Coach Packie Turner trained his players from young beginners to professionals in the NBA. Seeing highly seasoned NBA players come in and out of the gym gave him insight on the hard work required to succeed at such a level. This was a mindset he knew he had to carry coming into Taiwan if he wanted to receive playing time.

This August 2025, Lum began his season with New Taipei. In practice he noticed the change of pace in play and physicality. Something he had to adjust to when playing against other teams. 

“Specific challenges for me at the moment are just getting adjusted to the speed and physicality. Going from D3 at Whitman to the next step of playing pros overseas just requires more adjustment that I think I’m getting a better feel for. Another challenge includes going from a starter in college to having to work my way up. It’s my first year and I have to work for a spot just like the guys who have been playing for ten plus years did,” Lum said. 

Lum is only six games into his first season as a professional playing overseas and is eager to do whatever he can in order to help his team win. He leads everyday by showing up mentally and physically ready to show up in practice and in game. New Taipei is a team who is known for their defense. As a guard, Lum has goals of using his play making ability to create space on the court and uphold the defensive brand that New Taipei prides itself in. Throughout the season, Lum is ready to showcase his ability to play at a high level. 

“In order to see myself on the court more, I’ve realized that I need to be more of a defensive asset because of how much the team values that. That’s something that I think I’ve improved on during the short time that I’ve been here. Coming into a team with that background pushes me to be a force that tires out our opponents guards,” Lum said. 

Throughout the season, Lum is ready to showcase his ability to play at a professional level. From the Bay Area to Taiwan, Lum has used every challenge to prove why his work ethic and basketball skill are deserving of a spot on the New Taipei CTPC DEA. He is looking forward to immersing himself into the knowledge that his veteran teammates and coaches aim to share with him.