How Jeremy Lin's Historic Performance Opens More Doors for All Asian Americans

In the wide world of professional sports, the major storylines have to do with the more popular players and rightfully so. So far this NBA season, the headlines have focused on the Miami Heat (they cannot be just left alone) or another Dwight Howard trade rumor (which is starting to spiral out of control).

What about focusing on something else that will also benefit the NBA in a major way? The NBA is in need of story lines that put things into perspective by focusing on any of the other “professionals” working hard every night. For example, who could have thought that the Knicks would do so well without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire in the lineup? Or who could predict that Jeremy Lin would have such an amazing week with the Knicks?

One thing that can be said is that Jeremy Lin is a hero for all Asian Americans to this day. Lin, a Taiwanese American who was one of the top basketball recruits coming out of high school in the state of California (2006) has set a new trend for Asian Americans with his achievements over the past week. After not being recruited by a top basketball program, Lin spent four years playing college basketball at Harvard University before going undrafted in 2010.

After recently discussing Lin's performance with a Chinese American friend of mine face-to-face, one thing that cannot be ignored is the confidence and inspiration that his performance provides to fellow Asian Americans to achieve and push past barriers.

Now Asian Americans can gain enough confidence to push through barriers set and pursue a career in the NBA. Rather than leaning on more stereotypical roles such as becoming an engineer, a scientist or a doctor (nothing against those career choices), why not look to do different things?

Hopefully following in Lin’s footsteps, more Asian Americans will join collegiate basketball programs (and be given a fair chance) to play at the next level which would be wonderful for the league as a whole.