Grand stage doesn’t faze humble Lin
ORLANDO — New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s whirlwind All-star weekend began Thursday with a late-night private flight from Miami to Orlando with teammates Carmelo Anthony and Landry Fields.
It concluded Saturday afternoon with an appearance at Foot Locker, and then Lin finally had precious hours to himself with friends and family.
In between, an exhausted Lin addressed news reporters and played in Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge. The Knicks had just played five games in seven days and lost to the Miami Heat on the second night of a back-to-back set.
The weekend punctuated Lin’s insanely popular story from NBA castoff to cultural and league phenom amid an intense media spotlight.
His often remarkable and unexpected play even captured the imagination of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. “If he’s still looking for a place to crash, he can crash at my apartment. Imagine the tabloids then,” Rodriguez said at spring training Saturday. Lin has his own place now, so no need for that. Lin has been charming and self-effacing. Taking the blame when the Knicks lose. Crediting his teammates when the Knicks win. Humorous if necessary. Serious if necessary.
During the Rising Stars Challenge, the giant scoreboard screen showed Lin’s parents on the Kiss Cam. They barely looked up from their mobile devices and did not kiss, even though the crowd encouraged them. The camera zoomed in on Lin, who laughed and shook his head.
So far, the moment — game-winning shots or turnover-rife performances — has not been too big or overwhelming for Lin. His faith has played a large role in that. When the Knicks played the Heat on Jan. 27, Lin went to pregame chapel with teammates Fields and Jerome Jordan and Heat forward Udonis Haslem. Lin, Haslem said, asked his fellow worshippers to pray the Knicks wouldn’t cut him at the Feb. 10 deadline.
Lin also explained his Knicks uniform number: 17. He likes No. 7, but that belongs to Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.
“Seven was my number last year, and it’s one of God’s numbers that he uses throughout the Bible,” Lin said. “And I chose 17 because the ‘1’ was to represent me and the ‘7’ was to represent God. And when I went to the D-league, I had 17, and so everywhere I go, He would be right there next to me. And so that’s why I stuck with 17.”
So it’s not an homage by Lin, who played with the Golden State Warriors last season, to former Warriors great Chris Mullin, who wore No. 17?
“Oh, no, not at all. I didn’t even think of that,” Lin said. “But he’s a great player. Trust me, I’m a huge fan of his.”
Lin allowed that his inclusion in All-star weekend has been surreal.
“Oh, absolutely,” he said. “Just any press conference of my own in general, let alone AllStar weekend. Just to be here and to see the company and all the players that are here is just — it’s been unbelievable, and I’m just trying to take it all in and embrace it.”
Lin said he had not gone on any spending splurges. “No. I’m still a minimum (salary) guy. That hasn’t changed,” he said.
He has, however, moved off his brother’s couch and into a swanky high-rise apartment in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site. He is due for a significant raise after the season, when he is expected to become a restricted free agent.
“Obviously, when you look at me, I’m going to have to prove myself again and again and again, and some people may not believe it,” he said. “I know a lot of people say I’m deceptively athletic and deceptively quick, and I’m not sure what’s deceptive. But it could be the fact I’m Asian American.
“But I think that’s fine. It’s something that I embrace, and it gives me a chip on my shoulder. But I’m very proud to be Asian American, and I love it.”
Lin is not worried about the daily criticism of his game: too many turnovers, inconsistent jump shot, can’t go left. “The difference between me last year and this year is that last year I cared what everybody said and this year I don’t really care what anybody says, except for my teammates and my coaches,” he said.
For all of the consternation surrounding how Anthony would fit in with Lin after Anthony missed nearly eight games with a strained right groin, Lin had a supporter.
“He’s definitely taken me under his wing,” Lin said of Anthony, “and he talks to me pretty much every single timeout and gives me a lot of advice.”