Subscribe
Follow Us
Jeremy Lin has made his return to the Big Apple, although it is to a new borough. The point guard has signed a new three-year, $36 million dollar deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
We all remember the 26-game run, the game winner against the Toronto Raptors, and the Time magazine cover. But the overnight success had its positives, and its negatives.
Lin spoke about his time with the Knicks during his Nets press conference on Wednesday:
“When it first started, I am not going to lie, it was cool. Then it became a burden because I didn't know what I had gotten myself into. I didn't know how big things had become. One, two, three years removed, every year I embrace it more, every year I am more appreciative, every year I love it more and that is where I am right now.”
After leaving the Knicks, he played for the Rockets, Lakers, and Hornets. The Linsanity moniker has followed him since it happened, but he wants to be known for his present play, not the past.
Article Continues Below
“I will be myself but I don't really draw too many comparisons to ‘Linsanity' the phenomenon. I am just going to keep playing. People will always kind of compare me to that. In a lot of ways, not in a negative way or a way that I am offended but it kind of dehumanizes me to refer to me as a phenomenon. I am going to be here, keep playing my game, do the best that I can and whatever you guys want to call it, that is up to you guys.”
Although Jeremy Lin is one of the most recognizable players in the league, he's used that to his advantage, to talk about social issues:
“I'm in a much, much different place mentally as a person than I was when I was with the Knicks. So when you talk about that platform, I want to embrace it. I am not just saying Asians. If you look at what is going on in the world and a lot of violence that is going on in the world in terms of the justice system and all of these different things that is real life. That is so much bigger than basketball. I have a voice because of basketball to be able to talk and influence (people) … that is a very unique situation.”
Jeremy Lin averaged 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 78 games with the Hornets last season.
[button width=”full” button size=”bigger” color=”custom” align=”center” textcolor=”#ffffff” texthcolor=”#ffffff” bgcolor=”#8b0000″ link=”https://clutchpoints.com/jeremy-lin-ready-bigger-role-nets/”]NEXT: Jeremy Lin ready for bigger role with Nets[/button]
