Jeremy Lin Explains How Linsanity Phenomenon Became a Burden

By Carlo Monzon
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin recently announced that he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets.  Twitter/Jeremy Lin

Despite getting his big break through the Linsanity era when he was still with the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin said he wants to move on from being labeled as a mere phenomenon. Now that he's with the Brooklyn Nets, the athlete noted that he is now more focused on his career and influence as a professional player.

Immediately after Lin announced that he will be joining the Nets, murmurs about the Linsanity phenomenon coming back started to emerge. After all, going to Brooklyn means he will be returning to New York, the place where his stardom as a player boomed.

The Linsanity phenomenon happened in 2011 as Lin was getting dangerously closed to being released by the Knicks. For 11 games during that year, Lin dominated in the court by making an average of 24 points per game.

But, despite saving his career and cementing his achievements in the league, Lin noted that being dubbed as Linsanity was difficult for him, NY Times reported.

"Everything happened overnight," he said during a news conference. "When [Linsanity] first started, I am not going to lie, it was cool. Then it became a burden because I didn't know what I had gotten myself into. I didn't know how big things had become."

Now that he's with the Nets, it's probably safe to assume that a lot of NBA fans will be expecting the return of Linsanity. However, according to Lin, he is now a different kind of player who is more focused on important matters, according to ESPN.

"I'm in a much, much different place mentally as a person than I was when I was with the Knicks," he said. "So when you talk about that platform, I want to embrace it. I am not just saying Asians. If you look at what is going on in the world and a lot of violence that is going on in the world in terms of the justice system and all of these different things that is real life."

"That is so much bigger than basketball," he added. "I have a voice because of basketball to be able to talk and influence [people] and do things that are related to things that are affecting people's lives every day."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories