Jeremy Lin discusses his doubts about deserving NBA championship on Ryan Higa’s Off the Pill Podcast

Jeremy Lin has opened up about his self-doubts over whether he deserves to be called an NBA champion.

The 30-year-old became the first Asian-American to win an NBA title last week, but played only 51 seconds in the Toronto Raptors’ triumph in six games against the Golden State Warriors.

“There were times in all honesty where I felt I had to tell myself I deserve a championship,” Lin said in an appearance on the Off The Pill Podcast, which is hosted by his friend Ryan Higa. “As a competitor who plays and has played my whole life, I’m not used to not playing, so I was like, ‘This is tough, do I really deserve it?’

“Then I started to think about my whole journey and I definitely do. I contributed to the team, I played 23 games in the regular season. I play against these guys all the time, whether it’s in workouts or whatever, even watching the game and talking to guys, giving my opinion, being a voice.

“That’s very, very valuable. In terms of staying ready and working out, I worked really, really hard this year.

“I wish people understood just how hard we have to work, even the guys who never touch the floor, because you never know when you’re gonna get that opportunity. You have to do everything to be ready to play.”

Lin’s achievement has been celebrated and mocked in equal parts on social media, and he even called on fans to stop trolling his old New York Knicks rival Carmelo Anthony. But he said he believes there is an element of racism to some of the comments.

“I was like, man, I definitely deserve it too because I got here,” Lin said. “There’s billions of people and there’s only 450 spots [in the NBA]. I’m there, I made it, I worked hard to be here.

“It’s tough because I can understand what people are saying. I don’t mind necessarily if people make jokes of, ‘Oh, you didn’t do anything but you got a ring’. But they always highlight you’re the Asian, the first Asian who didn’t do something in the group project.

“You have the head coach, then the assistant coaches. Did they do anything? They weren’t talking in timeouts, weren’t calling the plays, arguing with the refs. But everyone has their role. There’s so many things that happen.

“That’s why I think people care so much about having good locker room guys, good veteran presence, guys to say things at the right time to help the team.

“I had to struggle with, ‘Do I really deserve this? The more I thought ... I do. I should enjoy it and embrace it. I’m not gonna shy away from celebrating that or have anyone taking it away from me.”

“I know how hard I worked, I know the way I prepared, the way I cheered for my teammates when I didn’t have to, the way I tried to give advice, whatever it is all the way down the road,” Lin added.

“I know I did everything in my power to be ready and to be the best player.

“There was no actual evidence of that on the court in the Finals, I didn’t get to play, but no one can take that away from me that I did things the right way.

Higa also pointed out that even some Asian fans are mocking Lin on social media.

“Hopefully those same Asians making fun of me, five or 10 years down the road when I’m no longer playing, they can appreciate, ‘Oh, that’s the first Asian-American to win an NBA championship,” Lin said.