Jeremy Lin: From Harvard to NBA stardom
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Feb 2012
WITH a degree of economics from Harvard University, Jeremy Lin has all the tools to help save the world from financial armaggedon.
But the world sometimes makes a mysteriously unexpected turn. And such is the life of Jeremy Lin, who is currently pouring all his energy and passion saving the New York Knicks.
Five games ago, the Knicks barely had a pulse, sinking fast down the NBA abyss with an 8-15 record. Their offense looked dead and dreadful, their defense lethargic. And with franchise player Carmelo Anthony battling injuries, the future promises despair, not hope.
All that gloom changed last February 4 in the Big Apple. On that Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden, in front of 19, 763 fans, a star was born.
Peeled off the deepest end of the bench, Jeremy Lin sprang to action and led the Knicks past the visiting New Jersey Nets, 99-92. Lin shot 10 of 19 field goals, dished 7 assists, grabbed 5 rebounds and stole the ball twice.
It was a performance worthy of applause and ovation, a brilliance that was just beginning.
Four games later, this time as the team's starting point guard, Lin guided New York to four more consecutive victories, including Saturday night's 100-98 nail-biter over the Timberwolves in Minnesota, where Lin sank the go-ahead free throw with 4.6 seconds remaining.
JUST like that, the Knicks are relevant again, creeping to within two games of a .500 record at 13-15.
And just like that, Lin is heralded as the savior. "Lin-sanity," New Yorkers call it. Others tag it as "All-Lin" and "Lin-pressive." Whatever the label, though, this simply is an amazing story to watch unfold.
Even Kobe Bryant, whose Lakers Lin torched for 38 points in a Knicks triumph Friday night at the Garden, took notice. "It's a great story. It's a testament to perseverance and hardwork. A great example to kids everywhere," said Kobe.
What a fairy tale, indeed.
Lin, 23, was born in Los Angeles and raised in Palo Alto, California. His parents ---- who emigrated from Taiwan in the mid 70s -- both stand at only 5-foot-6 inches tall, but Jeremy somehow skyrockted to 6-foot-3 with 200 pounds of muscle and bone.
He went to college at Harvard, an institution that has produced eight U.S. presidents, including the incumbent, Barack Obama. Students enrol at Harvard not to become NBA athletes, they go to Harvard harboring dreams of becoming lawyers or civic leaders, which makes Lin's journey even more compelling.
Undrafted, Lin was signed by for the Golden State Warriors for a partially guaranteed contract worth under $500,000 last season. He appeared in 29 games, averaged a meek 2.6 points and 1.1 assists in just 9.8 minutes of play per game and was released.
And so here he is now, a discarded piece turning into a New York treasure.
Still, it wasn't easy. Lin was reportedly about to be cut by the Knicks. And then this blur, this massive explosion of brilliance took place.
Lin's relatively meager $762,000 paycheck for the season is now fully guaranteed. With that money, the affable playmaker can now afford to get his own place and move of out his brother's New York apartment where he has been sleeping in the couch lately.
Despite all the hoopla, Lin has managed to keep his feet on the ground. He thanks his coaches for the opportunity everytime he gets the chance. Heck, he even thanked those who heckled him at the Target Center in Minnesota on Saturday.
The Knicks won't play again until Tuesday, Valentine's Day. But it doesn't matter, hoops fans all around are already madly in love with Jeremy Lin.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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