Jeremy Lin recently stated his longstanding desire to finish his career with the New York Knicks. What moments made him such a hot topic in New York?
Jeremy Lin has become quite vocal about his time with the New York Knicks. From stating a desire to play for the Knicks again to reminiscing about what once was, Lin holds nothing back when discussing his former squad.
In the spirit of appreciation, it’s half past time we honor Lin for the true sensation that he was with the Knicks.
Linsanity was a short-lived run, but it reinvigorated the organization and introduced the team to a new global market. He captivated the masses with his play on the court and became a true fan favorite with his approachability off of it.
Lin recently told Steve Serby of The New York Post that he wishes he could’ve spent his entire career with the Knicks.
"“I was really, really sad. I was sad the way everything went down, ’cause nothing happened the way I thought it was going to. I had wished that they had offered me a contract just in the beginning, and that didn’t even happen. And then, when I found out that they weren’t gonna match, I was even more sad, ’cause honestly, I wanted to finish my career there. I wanted to play for those fans who rallied behind that city, that came behind us and gave me that experience. I felt like I owed it to them.”"
If Lin is going to evaluate what once was, then it’s only right for us to do the same.
Lin is still a very solid player, but he gets more airtime than virtually any other contributor with his role, production, or playing time. Though his likability has persisted, his global popularity is a direct result of what’s endearingly known as, “Linsanity.”
For a brief period of time during the 2011-12 NBA season, the Knicks turned to Lin to lead the charge, and he responded in an extraordinary way.
Over the course of that iconic 26-game run, Lin averaged 18.5 points, 7.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. Prior to that stretch, he was playing in the NBA D-League and sleeping on his brother’s couch.
Lin’s rise to fame and glory was truly unprecedented.
The madness wasn’t limited to what happened on the court. As he torched high-profile opponents, it became impossible to walk down the streets of New York without seeing his face, hearing his name, or recognizing his jersey.
As Lin reflects upon his time with the Knicks, it’s time Daily Knicks does the same. These are the Top 5 moments of Linsanity.
Next: Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention: Lin vs. Wall
Jeremy Lin’s rise to fame began well before he became a member of the New York Knicks. It stagnated over the two years that followed, but it was at the 2010 NBA Summer League that Lin first made his mark on the Association.
It’s only fitting that Lin achieved some form of validation when he went toe-to-toe with the same rising star whom he torched at Summer League.
When Lin squared off against John Wall in 2010, he scored nine points in the fourth quarter to establish himself as a player to watch. It took almost two years for that performance to pay dividends, but when Lin got another shot at Wall, he went off.
Lin and Wall had a duel to remember as the New York Knicks took down the Washington Wizards 107-93 on the road.
Wall finished with 29 points and six assists on 12-of-22 shooting, but it was Lin who stole the show. Lin posted 23 points and 10 assists on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, including an explosive 15 points in the second half.
Lin had better performances than this while with the Knicks, but his going right at the former No. 1 overall draft pick was the very embodiment of what made Linsanity the craze that it was.
Next: He's Here
5. The Arrival
This list wouldn’t be complete without at least mentioning the game that began the Linsanity. Fresh off of being called up from the NBA D-League, Lin rose to the occasion when the New York Knicks needed him against the rival New Jersey Nets.
Lin didn’t just play well against All-Star point guard Deron Williams; he went toe-to-toe with him, took his best shot, and prevailed.
Williams finished the game with 21 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Statistics aren’t everything, but the numbers tell an accurate tale of a player who found a way to make an impact in every phase of the game.
As Carmelo Anthony had an uncharacteristically poor shooting night, Lin took it upon himself to show his coaching staff that he belonged.
Lin went off for 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals on 10-of-19 shooting. It was exactly what the Knicks needed, as Lin scored 12 points in the fourth quarter of a must-win game.
It seems silly to suggest that a game in early February was a must-win, but the Knicks had lost 11 of their previous 13 outings. This Knicks needed a win and Lin delivered when no one else could.
Next: Truly Dominant
4. Dominating Dallas
The domination of the Dallas Mavericks may have been Jeremy Lin’s best individual performance. As three out of five starters posted a negative +/-, and Carmelo Anthony missed the game due to injury, Lin went off.
Mere weeks removed from playing in the D-League, Lin all but single-handedly led the New York Knicks to a 104-97 win over the defending NBA champions.
Lin was unfathomably exceptional, recording 28 points, 14 assists, four rebounds, five steals, and a block. He shot 11-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and was a +14 on a night during which three starters were a -11 or worse.
Though Dallas had its fair share of struggles in 2011-12, it was still a very strong defensive team that had no answer whatsoever for Lin.
This performance is one that caused many around the NBA to crown Lin as the Knicks’ next big thing. As Anthony nursed an injury, Lin was establishing himself as the player whom many believed could become the point guard of the future.
Many doubted Lin’s legitimacy before, but after watching him dismantle the Mavericks, he won over a strong portion of his critics.
Next: Beating The Buzzer
3. The Buzzer-Beater
It may not be an official rule, but it seems as though every great player solidifies their status once they beat the buzzer. Proving to be clutch is the ultimate way to silence one’s critics and solidify their status as a legitimate force.
It was during a game against the Toronto Raptors, however, that Lin solidified his rising star status by doing exactly that.
Unforgettable.
On a night when Jose Calderon went off for 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three steals, Lin still managed to shine. As Amar’e Stoudemire provided the interior work, Lin did the heavy lifting from the perimeter.
Lin finished with 27 points and 11 assists as the Knicks pulled away for a 90-87 victory that pulled the team to within one game of a .500 record.
The fact that this was at the heart of the Linsanity craze makes the buzzer-beater all the more impressive. As the pressure mounted and the burden of leading New York to victory became heavier, he responded like a star.
If any one play can accurately illustrate the beauty of Linsanity, it’s the game-winner that Lin hit against the Toronto Raptors.
Next: You Know Me Now
2. Kobe Knows Him Now
Entering the New York Knicks’ February 11, 2012 showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, no player was generating more buzz around the NBA than Jeremy Lin. Thus, it was hardly surprising that Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was asked for his thoughts on Lin.
Per Ben Rohrbach of WEEI 93.7 FM, Bryant knew who Lin was, but didn’t understand why so many people were talking about him.
"“I know who he is, but I don’t really know what’s going on too much with him,” Bryant said. “I don’t even know what he’s done. Like, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I’ll take a look at it [Thursday night] though. “What the [expletive] is going on?,” he added. “Who is this kid? I’ve heard about him and stuff like that, but what’s he been doing? Is he getting like triple-doubles or some [stuff]? He’s averaging 28 and eight? No [stuff]. If he’s playing well, I’ll just have to deal with him.”"
When asked if he’d consider guarding Lin, the 12-time All-Defensive Team honoree responded by saying:
"“Jesus Christ. Let’€™s not get ahead of ourselves.”"
By the end of their battle at Madison Square Garden, Bryant knew exactly who Lin was and what he did.
Bryant finished the game with 34 points and 10 rebounds on 11-of-29 shooting, and he wasn’t even close to the topic of conversation. It was Lin who went right at the five-time NBA champion and made sure he knew exactly who he was.
Lin finished with 38 points and seven assists on 13-of-23 shooting from the field as the Knicks pulled out a 92-85 victory.
It was a classic example of what made Lin such an endearing figure to New Yorkers and Knicks fans. In the face of adversity, he pulled another rabbit out of the hat and showed the world why he belonged.
Plain and simple, Lin heard Bryant’s trash talk and proceeded to outplay him in every sense of the word. That’s a permanent notch in his belt.
Next: The Streak
1. The Linsane Streak
Though this may feel like a bit of a cop out, the best moment of Linsanity was the Linsane streak he went on to begin it. It wasn’t just that he played well, or even that he turned heads in local, national, and international communities.
During the first nine games of Linsanity, he genuinely saved the New York Knicks from what was shaping up to be a lost season.
Lin scored at least 20 points in six consecutive games, and had 20-plus in eight out of nine. During the one game that he failed to reach the 20-point plateau, he recorded 10 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds on 4-of-6 shooting in just 26 minutes.
Far more important than his individual success, however, was the manner in which Lin led New York to a massive turnaround.
New York entered the Linsanity era at 8-15 with a 2-11 record over the previous 13 games. The Knicks proceeded to go 8-1 during this nine-game stretch, thus bringing the record back to .500 during a lockout-shortened season that left no time to waste.
Though many remember the highlights and stat lines, the best moment of Linsanity was when he made the Knicks a relevant team again.
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It may not have lasted very long, but Linsanity rejuvenated the Knicks. It deserves to be remembered as the sensational time that it was.