Jeremy Lin: What He Brings and the Importance of Linsanity

From the precipice to glory.

That is the theme of Jeremy Lin's incredible NBA run so far.

But to offer a descriptive and apt Linism: This isn't Linsynching, the New York Knicks revelation at point guard is for real.

When they bend the language for you—as has been done aplenty for the balling Harvard grad—you know you're good.

But aside from the issue of linguistic love, old NBA watchers—and the millions of new professional round-ball onlookers Lin is magnetizing—value Lin because he is showing that he understands how to play basketball, how to make a team flow well on the court.

Which brings us to the importance of Linsanity to date. The legacy he is building is a refined dualistic basketball treat.

First, the tangible:

• As a “point guard,” he can score—and right now with the best in the league.

• Despite a certain flash and flamboyance to his game, he still makes other players better (he's made Steve Novak a nearly 20-point scorer,  for goodness sakes). To wit: The Knicks have won five games in a row since his insertion.

• He gets to the basket, which even reigning NBA stars are reluctant to try on a regular basis.

• He can play system basketball, but he freelances wisely and in context.

Second, the intangible:

• He is inspirational. He has even inspired the injured Knicks super-scorer Carmelo Anthony.

• He is fearless. His heart is very big on the court versus any opponent.

• He exhibits a consistent selflessness, putting his teammates above individual plaudits, in words and deeds.

Jeremy Lin has expunged practically all of the glaring Knicks flaws and foibles so readily apparent heretofore.

There was the pessimism. Gone.

There was the inability to score inside. Gone.

There was the team stagnation on offense. Gone.

There was the surrender in close games. Gone.

There was the misuse of Tyson Chandler. Gone.

And so on.

One could name a zillion Knicks deficiencies, now wondrously wiped away because of the exuberance and effectiveness of Lin.

Madison Square Garden has not been so alive since Latrell Sprewell brought his esprit to it in the late 1990s-early 2000s.

Further, Mr. Lin has made NBA basketball in general more fun than it has been in ages.

What's more enjoyable: Observing Kobe, Carmelo or LeBron hold the ball for 12 seconds in a hit-or-miss isolation, or watching Jeremy Lin in motion, guilely eluding defenders for a lay-in.

Many millions of fans and a slew of aficionados would prefer the above-referenced aspect of the “Linnomenon,” than the tired one-on-one moves exhibited by more heralded NBA superstars.

The usual suspect pundits and commentators are asking, “Can he keep it up?” They miss the point.

The whole of the Jeremy Lin experience is about perseverance and endlessness. It's about what he has given us so far, and what he's willing to do to prove his point.

Their question is thus rhetorical in Lin's favor.

Lin never gave up believing in himself—not in the onerous D-league, not in the January days before he was surely going to be cut by the short-sighted Knicks, not when he was recruited by virtually no one but Harvard University upon entrance to college.

Lin's disposition says to us, “it's not about Asian (his heritage); it's about attitude.” An unmistakable Lin lesson.

The New York Knicks, since their regalement days of yore, have the trait of ruining a good thing.

However, even they can't ruin Lin. He has too much will and passion for the game of basketball, a game which he plays so well.