Despite the fact Jeremy Lin is playing alongside a Los Angeles Lakers team that currently has the worst record of the Western Conference at 3-13, the point guard still looks on the bright side of life.
In Lin's blog post from Thanksgiving Day, the California native noted how he was adjusting to life in Los Angeles. He also made a few comments about his faith in God as well.
"Off the court, I've really been getting settled into LA comfortably," Lin wrote. "Things have been pretty difficult from a basketball standpoint, but everything else has been everything I can ask for. On most non-game days, I spend my time hanging out with family and friends."
Lin added that from a spiritual perspective, he's been "challenged to seek humility even more each day." He accepts the challenges God has given him in the field of basketball.
"When life is tough, it forces me to re-evaluate everything and learn to depend on God more than I initially think I need to," Lin wrote. "God continually stretches me and challenges me through basketball, and I'm just trying to live each day pleasing Him."
Lin noted that he has leaned on the words of John 3:30 through the tough times, which states in the King James Version that "He must increase, but I must decrease." Although he admitted that it was "counterintuitive to everything society preaches," he also said that putting more of God first "is always the best formula."
Although the Asian-American tries to talk about his basketball methods in humble tones, other sportswriters have noticed big improvements in his style. According to Michael Dunlap of Fansided, he may not be at the levels seen during his New York Knicks run known as "Linsanity," but the NBA statistics do indicate advancements.
"Lin is playing a much smarter game than he has in the past and he's being a lot more choosy about the shots he's taking," Dunlap wrote. "It's no coincidence that he's putting up career highs in field goal shooting (.490), 3-point shooting (.383) and effective field goal percentage (.552)."
Dunlap added that the point guard also improved his midrange game significantly.
"He's improved his midrange game over last season by leaps and bounds, as he's improved from 3-to-10 feet (plus-4.9 percent), from 10-to-16 feet (plus-8.7) and from 16 feet to the 3-point line (plus-5.7)," Dunlap wrote.
David Murphy of Bleacher Report credits the encouragement and tough love on Lin from Kobe Bryant as being the key to improving the point guard's game. This was most recently seen on Sunday's game, where the Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 129-122 in overtime.
"For Laker fans, it was a rare bright moment during an abysmal season," Murphy wrote. "For Lin, it was an invitation to a basketball clinic."
Lin has moved to four different NBA teams in five seasons. Murphy noted that it was "understandable" Lin wants a "more grounded and sustainable identity," but Los Angeles may not be the place to do that.
"Los Angeles is no market for shrinking violets," Murphy wrote. "If the glare of the spotlight burns bright in the Big Apple, it can be just as harsh in Hollywood."
Despite the fact that both Lin and Bryant may have different playing styles that clash at times, Lin managed to pick up some valuable pointers from the NBA veteran.
"Kobe demanded Lin own it, and since then, there have been tangible signs of improvement," Murphy wrote. "You can see it in his confidence and aggression, and it shows in his numbers as well."
Murphy added that thanks to Bryant's advice, Lin is learning how to play through the noise, stand up on his own, and how to give and take on the basketball court.
"He is learning about survival in the NBA, from one of the game's longest and most successful survivors," Murphy concluded.
