Jeremy Lin got his wish to return to New York, a place where he never really wanted to leave in the first place. Being a pro player, his plight is technically not in his hands.
After gaining prominence with the New York Knicks, many are left befuddled why he wasn’t kept. Issues of racism and unrest from within have been rumoured despite constant denials by people like Carmelo Anthony and Ama’re Stoudemire.
Mike D’Antoni, the coach who gave Jeremy Lin the opportunity to shine came forward to hint that there was something going on internally. But all that is now spilt milk with all players going separate routes.
From the people who were around when “Linsanity” rose was Anthony, the obvious franchise player.
How does Jeremy Lin handle racism?
Jeremy Lin previous tour of duty in New York was not a fruitful one. He was an unknown who suddenly rose to stardom but not everyone was fine with the idea. Racism is one sensitive topic tied up to that though Lin seems to have gotten used to all of it.
“I just shake it off, it’s not a big deal. Sometimes the stuff people might say or tweet or comment, really racist things, but that doesn’t bother me like it used to...But I really don’t let it affect me. … I’m so used to it now. It doesn’t bother me,” said Lin via the NY Post.
Lin has been around though it seems to be fine with the former Harvard University graduate. In fact he sees something positive out of it, including options in the event that he is unhappy. But at the end of the day, it is all about proving he belongs in the NBA.
Return to New York with purpose
Lin plans to prove that with the Brooklyn Nets next season. With his return now official, he is expected to start for head coach Kenny Atkinson but the hard part is leading the team.
At 27, Lin is up the task with the setting perfect. He is back home and gets the chance to restart a new kind of hype, something many refer to as “Linsanity 2.0”. It may not be his priority but it is something many NBA fans are obviously waiting to happen once more.