If you are a basketball fan, or even if you just happen to flip over to ESPN at most any given point in time, then it is likely you will hear an earful about basketball’s latest rage, Jeremy Lin. Twenty-three year old Lin plays for the NBA’s New York Knicks, and he’s really making some headlines these days. But what’s the big deal about Jeremy Lin? Read on to find out.
Lin’s humble beginnings. Lin was born in San Francisco to Taiwanese immigrants. Neither of his parents, father Gie-Ming nor mother Shirley Lin, are over five-foot-six tall, making Jeremy’s six-foot-three stance a bit of an oddity in his immediate family. Gie-Ming taught his son to play basketball at the local YMCA, and Shirley formed a National Junior Basketball program to give her son, who showed promise at even a young age, enough play time. By the time he was a senior in high school, Jeremy Lin was captain of the Palo Alto High School basketball team.
The slow rise to fame. Lin did not go to college on a basketball scholarship. As a matter of fact, he did not receive even one scholarship offer to play for a college basketball team, and he was not even drafted after graduating from college. His foot in the door was a partial contract to his local team, the Golden State Warriors. After sitting the bench during most of his rookie season, Lin was assigned to the NBA D-League three times in a row before being waived by the Golden State Warriors in the following preseason. He then landed at the Knicks, where he once again was assigned to the D-League. In February of 2012, although he’d previously played very little for the Knicks, Lin led his team through an unexpected winning streak and was promoted to the starting lineup. The result was a global show of respect and support, often referred to as “Linsanity.”
Why the Linsanity? For starters, Lin’s unlikely rise to fame makes him somewhat of a phenomenon. Additionally, Jeremy Lin is one of only a few Asian American players in the history of the NBA and the only ever American of Taiwanese descent in the league. But when you look at the bigger picture, it’s easy to see that Lin is more than just a novelty act. He’s a great player. In his first year of experience alone, he has played at a beginner level that arguably surpasses greats like Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas, and Magic Johnson.
As Linsanity continues to sweep the globe, everyone seems to be wondering what will come next for Jeremy Lin. The only thing that is certain is that he is not going anywhere but up.
About the Author: Keith Jeanmard is a healthcare professional with a huge passion for sports and sports related care. He can often be found on the court with his friends but also enjoys checking out sites like Yeastinfection.org by Eric Bakker for information on how misunderstood conditions can affect daily life.
