NBA player profile: Jeremy Lin

Devaro Bolton

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Name: Jeremy Lin

Team: New York Knicks

Position: Point Guard

NBA Statistics: 11.1 (points), 4.1 (assists), 2.2 (rebounds)

Background: For generations, the term 'Cinderella story' has been used to describe an individual's unexpected but deserved rise to fame. However, as of last week the basketball nation will now hold this feat as the 'Lin story'.

His first obstacle on his basketball journey came when he was unable to receive an athletic scholarship for college, even after leading Palo Alto High School to a California Interscholastic Federation Division II state title. He wanted to play basketball, so with Harvard assuring him that he would be a starter he decided to go there ahead of other schools where playing time would not be guaranteed.

After four years of Harvard, Lin declared himself eligible for the draft and found things unwelcoming as he was left undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. Luckily he was given a contract by the Golden State Warriors, making him the first American player of Chinese descent to play in the league.

He played less than 30 games in his debut season but was kept in the limelight by his heritage versus his on-the-court contributions inclusive of being the subject of numerous documentary ideas.

He was released by the Warriors at the start of the 2011-2012 lockout, but was snapped up by the Knicks and he is now thriving on the opportunity presented.

He has managed to score 20 points or more (including a career-high 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers) in his five most recent games, all of which were victories for the Knicks, resurrecting them from their slump and restoring them to a play-off spot.