Jeremy Lin: Interest from Nicki Minaj Proves Knicks Star Is a Pop Culture Phenom

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin is the hottest name in all of sports right now, so it's only natural that one of the hottest names in music is showing some interest in the sudden superstar.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, award-winning rapper and hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj has said that there is only one person she wants to hang out with during the NBA's All-Star weekend Feb. 24-26.

One might think that she is talking about Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but Minaj only has eyes for Lin.

It's easy to see why Minaj, like so many others, has gotten caught up in Linsanity. In the seven games (six starts) since Lin first started to receive significant playing time, he is averaging 24.4 points and nine assists per game, and the Knicks are a perfect 7-0. The Knicks were in big trouble with Lin riding the pine, but they have been a completely different team with him in the lineup.

With Lin's popularity at a fever pitch, the NBA did well to get him heavily involved in All-Star Weekend. Not only was he added to the Rising Stars Challenge at the last minute, but he will also compete in the Shooting Stars competition, as well as assist teammate Iman Shumpert in the Slam Dunk Contest.

Most of the attention during All-Star weekend is on the game itself, but I get the feeling that Lin will ultimately be the story of the festivities, just like he has been the story of the season thus far. His ascent truly is incredible as there were likely diehard NBA fans who had no clue about Lin just a month or two ago.

Prior to the season he was waived by both the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, and he spent the early part of this year as a bench warmer behind underwhelming point guards Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby.

Now he is, in effect, a cultural icon.

Celebrities are always looking to do the "in" thing, and right now the "in" thing is to talk about Lin. Minaj has probably gotten used to being a big figure in pop culture, but her popularity has unquestionably been surpassed by Lin. Perhaps Minaj has ulterior motives when it comes to hanging out with Lin, such as trying to hog some of the spotlight for herself.

If that is the case, you can't blame Minaj, though.

If I had the opportunity I would try to to associate myself with Lin's rising stardom as well. There always have been and there always will be fads in sports, but Linsanity is much more than a fad as it has developed into a true phenomenon.

We don't need Minaj to tell us how big Lin has become, but her mention of him is just further proof that he has transcended the world of sports and become intertwined in the public consciousness. It's hard to believe that few sports fans even knew who Lin was a few weeks ago, but suddenly he might be the most-talked-about person in the country.