As Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin prepares to take the next step in his NBA career, he took some time to poke fun at himself by appearing in a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" skit that aired after Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In addition, retired NBA player Steve Nash worked out with him.
According to Sarene Leeds of the Wall Street Journal, Lin appeared with Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry, Wesley Matthews and other current and past NBA players to read out "Mean Tweets" as part of a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" segment. Leeds explained how the gag was supposed to work.
"As any fan of the Mean Tweets segment can tell you, the ideal response to any kind of online ridicule is one that's funnier than the original tweet," Leeds wrote. "And the NBA stars certainly brought their A game."
Lin read out a mean tweet from a Twitter user named kody; the rest of the username was redacted. The point guard then shared his reaction.
"Jeremy Lin is worth probably a half jar of mustard pickles," kody wrote.
"You're worth a half jar of mustard pickles," Lin quipped as he looked right into the camera, which received some laughs.
In addition to Lin, NBA MVP Curry also read out and responded to a tweet directed at him by user zcutler45.
"Imagine the damage Steph Curry would be doing in the NBA if he didn't have such a girly name. #ChangeitToSteve," zcutler45 wrote.
"Steve is such a terrible name," Curry said in response, which also received some laughs. "Oh shoot, that's my first real name."
According to Leeds, one tweet focused on Matthews complaining "about every foul." The user also thought he should "just go eat donuts on the bench."
"I'm six percent body fat," Matthews quipped.
As Lin looks toward the possibilities that are part of being a free agent, Nash stopped by the Lakers' facility on Wednesday to work out with him. Serena Winters of Lakers Nation mentioned the meeting on Twitter.
"Working at the Lakers facility & a familiar face walked in - good 'ole Steve Nash!" Winters wrote. "Said he had a workout planned w/ Jeremy Lin."
According to James Herbert of CBS Sports, both Nash and Lin had their own struggles while playing in Los Angeles. Nash dealt with various sports injuries while Lin had to fight for playing time under Lakers coach Byron Scott.
"Nash worked out with Lakers rookie Jordan Clarkson a few times during the regular season after being ruled out for the season, but there weren't any similar sessions with Lin at the time," Herbert wrote. "It's cool that the pair of point guards, both of whom did brilliant things in Mike D'Antoni's system, are now spending some time together -- this has to be helpful for Lin."
Herbert added that Lin "has recaptured his energy after taking some time off."
