Jeremy Lin marks ‘Linsanity’, says G League ‘feels like rookie year’
- ‘One of my biggest goals is to come here and soak everything in and enjoy it,’ 32-year-old says of Santa Cruz Warriors season
- ‘This is my 11th year playing professional basketball, but for whatever reason, it almost feels like my rookie year’
NBA veteran Jeremy Lin said he feels like a rookie again ahead of the new G League season with the Santa Cruz Warriors as he marked the ninth anniversary of the beginning of “Linsanity”.
Lin, who signed for the Golden State affiliate as he tries to make an NBA comeback, shot to global stardom while at the New York Knicks in early 2012.
He scored 25 points against the New Jersey Nets on February 4 and then made his first NBA career start against the Utah Jazz on February 6, going on to win 99-88 with Lin scoring a game-high 28 points.
That marked the start of the “Linsanity” period, which saw the undrafted Harvard graduate lead the Knicks to seven consecutive wins. Lin had a record 109 points across his first four starts, 10 more than Michael Jordan.
“Today is the anniversary of Linsanity! That whole period of time was such a blur for me … so please share with me your favourite photos or stories from Linsanity!” the 32-year-old wrote on Twitter.
Lin shared the anniversary with his Chinese fans on Weibo: “Nine years ago, we made history, not just me, but all of us. Thank you for your support and push me to get better, I thank my fans to follow my journey!” He went further on Instagram where he called the period a miracle.
“Exactly 9 years ago! My life and career is proof that God still does miracles,” he wrote.
Lin offered fans on both social media accounts the chance to win a pair of his new signature shoes for sharing their “Linsanity” memories. The 32-year-old became the first Asian-American athlete to have their own signature shoe line, with Chinese manufacturer Xtep.
The anniversary was also marked by the Knicks on Twitter: “9 years ago today, Linsanity began. What a night. Where were you when it all began?”
"one of my biggest goals is to come here and soak everything in and enjoy it."
Check In with @JLin7 pic.twitter.com/g6ltXURqwA— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 3, 2021
Lin, who won the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 before spending last season with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association, also spoke of his excitement ahead of the G League season next week.
“I‘m very excited,” he said in a promotional video. “I think with Covid and everything that happened in 2020, a disappointing time, nothing can be taken for granted.
“Just to be able to get on the court and play is refreshing. I’m just grateful, and for me, one of my biggest goals is to come here and soak everything in and enjoy it.
“This is my 11th year playing professional basketball, but for whatever reason, it almost feels like my rookie year in terms of just … I don’t know, there’s something different that after last season, after Covid, there’s something different every time you step on the floor.
“I just want to soak everything in and embrace it as much as I can. If I don‘t do that, then I don’t think that would be a successful G League bubble. Regardless of the play and the performance and the results, if I can’t enjoy the present, then I’m missing out on a huge opportunity.”
The G League begins on February 10 when Lin’s Warriors take on the G League Ignite, a team made up of youngsters tipped for the NBA. All of the games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.