Jeremy Lin: Reaction to Budding Star's Success from Around the NBA

The amazing five-game stretch that New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has gotten off to has the sports world buzzing.

It's a small sample size, but what Lin has done so far has non-NBA fans watching New York Knicks games to see if Lin can keep it going.

Everyone is talking about "Linsanity," and that doesn't just mean the media and the fans, but the NBA players and coaches as well.

Let's take a look at some of the recent comments about Lin from around the NBA.

The following came from the Twitter accounts of NBA players and former players.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay: "Jeremy Lin is killing right now, I'm always rooting for the underdogs."

Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace: "Jeremy Lin is a role model! My son is black and Philippine. Asian American... He loves lincredible... Keep it up young fella!!!"

Phoenix Suns point-guard Steve Nash: "If you love sports you have to love what Jeremy Lin is doing. Getting an opportunity and exploding!!"

ESPN analyst Jalen Rose: "its an awesome story that NYK PG Jeremy Lin WILL WIN Eastern Conference player of the Week."

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee: "Too bad All Star voting is already over with or you would have a chance to start in the East LOL! Congrats lil bro and keep ballin!"

Naturally, I could go on all day with what the vibe around the league is concerning the NBA's newest star, but you get the point.

A much as Lin has wowed fans so far, he's gained the respect of his peers as well along the way, which shows even more that Lin is for real and here to stay.

His teammates love to play with him, and he's not only inspired them, but the city of New York as well, as he's got the Knicks on a season-high five game winning streak.

Lin definitely has a fan in Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni, who said.

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“He’s a good guy, it’s all about the team,” D’Antoni said. “His defense is good, his energy is good, his personality rubs off on everybody. … It’s becoming a love fest. It’s getting a little sappy. When you’re good people and you play the game the right way and you play hard, you start to feel something in your heart. When you do that, anything’s possible."

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Lin's not only impressed his coach, but his teammates already look to him as a leader even though it's only been five games that Lin's been in the starting lineup.

Forward Jarred Jeffries had the following to say to Fox Sports:

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“As a team, he lifts us up,” Knicks forward Jared Jeffries said. “It is weird for a guy to come in and be a team leader who has bounced around like he has. He has inspired us to play harder because he gives it his all every day.”

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Added center Tyson Chandler:

“I think he’s taken us all by surprise. Not only us, but the league right now. It’s contagious. You have to love a kid like that.”

Even Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who, before the Knicks beat the Lakers on Friday, said he had no idea about Lin, finally had to give him some credit as he told the New York Post:

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“He played extremely well. If that’s the way he’s been playing these last three, four games, he played phenomenal,’’ Bryant said. “We watched tape on him, came up with a strategy we thought would be effective. [But] knocking down his jump shot, penetrating and getting past our guards into the paint, [it didn’t work].’’

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Judging by the love he's getting from his peers, Linsanity is going to continue for quite a while.