Posted on 02/13/2012 10:21:10 AM PST by Retired Greyhound
Jeremy Lin may have come out of Friday night's game against the Lakers a star with a career-high 38 points, seven assists and four rebounds. But he's not letting the "Linsanity" overcome the country without giving proper credit to God.
"I just give all the praise to God," Lin said after the game.
Point guard for the New York Knicks, Lin has become a household name overnight. He's being recognized for not only saving the season, but for being the first American player in the NBA to be of Chinese or of Taiwanese descent and for his outspoken Christianity.
He eventually enrolled at Harvard and became an immediate star, but went un-drafted by all 32 NBA teams. He received an invitation to join the Dallas Mavericks summer league team, and surprised everyone with his play. In one particular summer league game he was pitted against John Wall, the #1 overall pick in that year's draft. Lin schooled Wall, leading the Mavs to a victory.
Ultimately, Dallas declined to sign Lin to a contract. He was signed by the Golden State Warriors, his hometown team. Though only playing sparingly, his skill and energy led him to became a cult hero and fan favorite among the Warriors faithful.
The Warriors cut Lin in December of this year to make room for another player. Lin was picked up by the Houston Rockets, but released a few days later for the same reason. He was finally picked up on a short term contract by the New York Knicks, but saw little action. Because his contract wasn't guaranteed, he didn't buy a place in New York, and instead, slept on a teammates sofa.
Injuries to a number of Knicks players forced the head coach to insert Lin into the 4th quarter of a game last week, and he led them to a victory. He has since become a starter and a star, leading his previously hapless team to five wins in a row. He broke the record for the most points scored in a player's first four starts in NBA history, passing Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal.
He is a testament to hard work and faith. As the story explains, he gives all the glory to God. He is the first Asian-American player since 1947. It is very likely that he was constantly overlooked because he was Asian, and doesn't fit the typical basketball profile.
But "Linsanity" has taken New York by storm.
Wow - gotta love the, “telling me I can’t doesn’t mean I have to believe it” attitude!
This kid has turned me into a Knicks fan....now I always check if the Knicks won their last game.
Thanks for posting. Will be watching this guy.
My wife bought a Linsanity t-shirt online.
She’s never lived in New York and has no connection to the Knicks whatsoever.
I wish the Warriors had kept him, but with Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis he’d never have gotten the opportunity he’s getting with the Knicks. Hope Carmelo and Stoudamire coming back don’t stifle Lin’s emergence.
No doubt this kid has the sports journalism world suffering from cognative dissonance. That lot has a rather limited bandwidth.
Carmelo, Amare, Chandler, Fields and Lin will be one heck of a starting lineup, provided that Carmelo become the ball-hog that he was in Denver.
Tebow and Lin just go to show how hungry people are out there to have good role models to look up to.
If a trend is developing where pro athletes openly share their devotion to God, and truly mean it... What a great blessing to all that are inspired by these athletes. It’s about time we can look to some of these guys and talk about something other than arrests, convictions, etc.
Give the kid some time. How many NY athletes have been sainted on arrival, only to be reduced to flashes in the pan? It happens in baseball every few years. Kevin Maas, anyone?
It’s going to be real interesting to see what happens when Stoudamire and Anthony come back. I can see him working with Stoudamire no problem, but Mello? Mello may have to start sharing some minutes with Lin.
Lin is good. He’s probably not *quite* as good as the past few games have shown because teams don’t know how to defend him yet. But he’s clearly good enough to be in the NBA in some capacity. And darned if he’s not a breath of fresh air in a league that’s mostly made up of thugs and gangstas.
}:-)4
Bad move on the Warriors' part, but great for Lin!
I was wondering how tall he is. Most Asians can’t go far in basketball because, no matter how skillful they are, they are height handicapped.
The article says 6’3”.
I expect that he will come back down to earth, but he really looks like a legit NBA point guard. And he has had success at every level. He just kept getting overlooked because he is Asian and doesn’t fit the profile.
I certainly think D’Antoni’s system may be inflating his numbers somewhat, but he is definitely passing the eye test. He is a playmaker and has great court vision. He’s a very good passer. And he has good size for a PG.
I see no reason why he won’t have a prolonged NBA career.
Skill, determination and achievements aside, he reveres God. He must be destroyed! (/liberal)
Anyone who plays like Linn, has his Christian attitudes, and has the additional distinction of having few if any tattoos is a refreshing change for the NBA and professional sports in general. Did I mention that he’s from Nationalist China?
I’ve had quite enough of these “gangsta” drug addled characters with thousands of dollars of ridiculous and obscene tattoos.
“Give the kid some time. How many NY athletes have been sainted on arrival, only to be reduced to flashes in the pan? It happens in baseball every few years. Kevin Maas, anyone?”
Mr.B I agree with you. However, the difference with this kid is that the fundamental point guard skills, and bball instincts, he has displayed don’t go away from game to game. Certainly his scoring will come down a bit, but his ability to see the floor, find the open man and make his teammates better will always be there. He is also a pretty good defender and a lot stronger than he looks. It will be interesting to see if a selfish diva like Carmelo Anthony can put aside his ego, and scoring average, and do what is best for the team. I doubt it! I know that Amare Stoudamire can because he has had success playing with Steve Nash in D’Antoni’s offense. I was a big Knicks fan growing up in 60’s and 70’s, but have given up on the “Me First” NBA, for many issues, over the past several years. Lin’s game has brought me back, at least temporarily! It will be fascinating to see what happens!
Basketball fans of a certain age will remember Rod Strickland, a point guard who starred at DePaul in late 80’s and then had a good but not great NBA career. Also a bit of a head case.
Lin’s play reminds me of Strickland (without the head case): Plays vertical with head up, strong control of the dribble, able to find post-up shooters, able to blow buy a defender and get to the basket. Lin is certainly good enough to be a starter in NBA, and in the right system could even be a longtime star.
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