Jeremy Lin, the NBA’s first Chinese-American player, joined the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, saying the Michael Jordan-owned club would allow him to maximise his potential as a player.
The 26-year-old guard inspired “Linsanity” in 2012 when he came off the bench to spark a win streak by the injury-riddled New York Knicks, but admitted that “New York seems like a decade ago.”
Lin, whose ancestry is from Taiwan and China, spent two seasons with Houston after the Knicks and last season with the Los Angeles Lakers before joining the Hornets last week in a free agent deal worth $4.3 million (Dh15.8m) over two years.
“Very excited. Can’t wait to get going. I just felt like this is going to be a great fit for me.” Lin said. “What I bring to the table is what I think this team needs.”
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Lin and Hornets coach Steve Clifford described a versatile, attacking role for Lin, a playmaker spot that would keep him aggressive and creating shot opportunities for himself and teammates.
“I do believe I’m a more refined, all-around player. I think the work I’ve put in has made me better. I just don’t think I’ve had the same fit or opportunity,” Lin said.
“I want to see how close I can get to reaching my full potential. It takes a lot of work on my end and also finding the right situation. I think this is a huge step in the right direction.
“I don’t know what my limit is. I don’t know how good I can be. But I want to find out.”
While the Hornets went 33-49 last season, Lin and the Lakers were a miserable 21-61.
“Spiritually it was very challenging, trying to maintain the right attitude every single day,” Lin said. “Going through things like that let me see what I’m made of.”
Lin had the chance to learn from star guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash and he did realise “there’s another level I need to get to, to be detail orientated, studying the game.”
Lin averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists for the Lakers last season and over five NBA campaigns has averaged 11.7 points and 4.8 assists a game. He joins a team that was last in the NBA last season in 3-point baskets.
“We’re very fortunate to add Jeremy, because he’s able to hit the 3-point shots but also because he’s a playmaker,” Clifford said. “He has the ability to create opportunities for his teammates.”
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