NBA Rumors: Asian-American Jeremy Lin to Sign with Golden State Warriors

The Los Angeles Times reported overnight that the Golden State Warriors are set to offer a guaranteed contract to Harvard guard Jeremy Lin.  Such a signing would break a long streak in the NBA, that being an Asian-American signed to a guaranteed contract, and a player from Harvard suiting up in the NBA.

Lin is from the San Francisco Bay area and, thus, playing in Oakland will be a homecoming for the Ivy League product.  But the Warriors were not the only team considering inking Lin to a guaranteed contract. Lin's impressive NBA Summer League performance opened a few eyes, but ultimately it will be the Warriors giving him the chance at the next level.

Harvard Product

Crimson Star

Teams Interested

The Deal

Asian-Americans and The NBA

Lin follows in the footsteps of the now 86-year-old Wataru "Wat" Misaka, who was the first Asian-American to play professional basketball in the United States. The Utah native played at the University of Utah before being selected by the Knicks in the 1947 draft. He scored seven points over three games for the Knicks before he was cut.

However, more recently, the Warriors decision to sign Lin comes on the heels of somewhat overlooked news.  The Portland Trail Blazers' hiring of Rich Cho to become their new general manager was a ground-breaking move in the NBA. As a result, Cho became the first Asian-American general manager in NBA history.