Security guard stops Jeremy Lin from boarding bus in Milwaukee ... but he’s delighted Raptors are in NBA Finals
- It’s not the first time the 30-year-old point guard was refused entry but he’s taking it in his stride
- The Taiwanese-American is hoping to get more playing time as his team face the Warriors in NBA Finals
Jeremy Lin is one of the most recognised Asian-American athletes on the planet and he might get more recognition now that his Toronto Raptors have reached the NBA Championship Finals for the first time.
Seven years ago, Lin created the phenomenon “Linsanity” and for a short period of time he was one of the most talked-about basketball players in the world with his breakout stretch for the New York Knicks. But things have changed a lot – so much to the point that he wasn’t even recognised by a security guard who stopped Lin from making his way to the Raptors’ team bus at Fiserv Forum in Wisconsin, Milwaukee in game two of their Eastern Conference finals last week.
Lin, who is of mainland and Taiwanese descent, was peeved that he was prevented from joining his teammates on the team bus. The security guard was just doing his job as the Raptors’ point guard wasn’t carrying his team pass but the 30-year-old NBA star made his feelings known on a talk show.
“After game two in Milwaukee, I was trying to get to the team bus and one of the dudes in the Milwaukee Arena just screams at me,” Lin said on the Bill Michaels Sports Talk Network. “He’s like, ‘Where do you think you’re going?!’ And I’m like, ‘Uh, I’m trying to get to the team bus.’ He’s like, ‘What? Where’s your pass?’
“‘I don’t know what you’re taking about. I don’t have a pass.’ This happens in a lot of arenas, so I just kind of go with the flow.”
It’s not the first time Lin has been refused entry into an arena. He had the same problem when he signed with the Charlotte Hornets in 2015 and after playing in the NBA for nine years, you would think he would be recognised by security?
Lin signed with the Raptors in February from the Atlanta Hawks, but has played only seven games or 26 minutes in the play-offs. Whether he will get more play time remains to be see. If Raptors do the improbable and defeat the Warriors, Lin might become more recognisable.
Anyway, Lin was celebrating Raptors’ victory against the Bucks and making history.
“WE. THE. NORTHHHH! Grateful to God, all the prayer warriors and the crazyyyyy fans! This squads [sic] full of soldiers! Finals #history,” he posted on Instagram on Saturday night.
Fans responded to Lin’s Instagram post by saying they hoped he would play in the finals against the Golden State Warriors, starting with game one on Friday morning (HK time).
“You’re going to the finals ... so cool but at the same time hilarious but on a serious note can you replace @greeranger14 to shoot a three ... he really can’t in the play-offs regular sure but when it matters he just cant. It’s killing me,” said brob4335.
Another commenter said Lin spending time on social media isn’t helping with his game.
“All the minutes u spent on ur social media ain’t gonna get u any minutes on the court ... how about putting aside the social media and focusing on practice so u won’t suck on the court?” said bambooswag.
