Jeremy Lin: An Underdog Story You Will Love

We love a great underdog story. Who doesn’t? Someone comes from against all odds and defies everything logical.

Many don’t give them hope, but they know something that we don’t.

We read those stories and it inspires us to the bone. It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to do, I truly believe reading stories of the underdogs gives you that push when you need it.

I love sports and the underdog stories that come out of it. Sports are still the best reality show on television. Hollywood couldn’t write it some of the unbelievable stories.

Last football season, there was Tim Tebow. Though he succeeded and won championships in high school, and college, many experts doubted he could succeed in the NFL. He couldn’t throw. He wasn’t a typical NFL quarterback.

Last season he took a 1-4 Denver team and took them to the playoffs. He was THE story in the NFL last season. Even Tebowing became a worlwide sensation.

Now in the NBA there is someone doing things no one could have imagined. You may not follow the NBA, but his story will definitely inspire you.

Jeremy Lin has taken the NBA by surprise in just one week. He went from sleeping on couches to having NBA players, celebrities, the media all talking about him. His story has truly been that insane. He’s gone from 70,000 to 199,314  Twitter followers in three days.

If you follow sports, then you know he’s the best story to come out of sports this year. If not, you’ll appreciate his story.

He’s the first American born Chinese player in the NBA. As a Chinese-American, I’m so excited for his success, but his story is inspiring for any race.

Before February 4th, he was sleeping on couches. His status as a professional basketball player was up in the air. Now? There’s one word to describe it: Linsanity.

From the beginning

His parents are from Taiwan. In Taiwan, they focus on academics over athletics, but his dad watched some basketball on TV and immediately fell in love with it.

He wanted to come to the US for two reasons: to finish his Ph.D and watch NBA basketball.

His first job in Los Angeles was long and hard so he wanted a way to relieve some stress. Basketball seemed like a great way.

There was one problem. He had never picked up a basketball before! He studied NBA players like he was studying for an exam. He emulated them.

It took years before he was comfortable playing a pickup game.

Later when he had three boys, he taught them the basics. He was their first basketball coach.

In high school, despite being a great player, Jeremy Lin was ridiculed for being Asian. Asians just don’t belong on the basketball court. By his senior year, he won the respect of those same people. Jeremy led his high school to a state championship.

Despite being the best player in California by many publications, he didn’t receive a single Division 1 scholarship offer.

Did race play a factor? He believes so.

Harvard offered him the chance to play, but offered no athletic scholarship. He jumped at the chance to play Division 1 basketball.

He excelled on the court, leading Harvard to new basketball heights. Yet he wasn’t drafted by any NBA team. Harvard just doesn’t produce many NBA players. There have been only four and none since 1954.

Jeremy Lin gets a shot at his dream…kinda

His hometown team, the Golden State Warriors signed him as a free agent in 2010. He barely played and only averaged 2.6 points a game, but cheered loudly by the Asian community every time he played. He was sent to the minor league a few times to work on his game.

It never worked out and he was released just after one season. The Houston Rockets signed him in the preseason this year and then released before the season began.

He was becoming another journeyman NBA basketball player. Two teams in less than two seasons.

He wanted to not just be on a team and sit at the end of the bench, but part of the mix.

He never lost his belief in his abilities.

From couch to savior for the New York Knicks

The Knicks command a lot of attention in New York. It’s the Big Apple! Madison Square Garden is one of the most legendary arenas for basketball.

They’ve tried to put together an championship team since 1973. They have a lineup that looks great on paper. They have two superstars that make a combined $38 million this year, but came into February 4th losing 11 out of 13 games.

Jeremy Lin signed with the Knicks on December 27th. They had injuries and needed someone to be the third string point guard. He played sparingly in a few games, and then sent to the minor leagues again. He was played so well there, they recalled him just after one game.

With the team still struggling, the coach gave him a chance to play serious minutes on February 4th. Why not? They couldn’t be doing worse.

For Jeremy, this was his chance to seize the opportunity. He was playing for his NBA career (explanation later). To everyone’s surprise, he scored 25 points and the team won.

Was this just a fluke? No matter. The coach started him the next game. Then he started the next and the next. How did he do?

25 points, 7 assists and the win 28 points, 8 assists and the win

23 points, 10 assists and the win