Jeremy Lin: Will Last-Second Addition to Rising Game Rescue All-Star Weekend?

Throughout the years, we've seen the Rising Stars Challenge, Shooting Stars competition and Slam Dunk Contest take a back seat to the All-Star Game.

Fortunately for all of us this year, Jeremy Lin is in all three competitions.

Lin wasn't voted into the All-Star Game this season because he hadn't played in enough games, but you can bet that fans would have flooded voting in his honor if he began his surge earlier.

But he still made it into All-Star Weekend on Friday (Rising Stars) and Saturday (Shooting Stars and Slam Dunk Contest). That we can be thankful for.

Lin has been an inspiration to many these last two weeks, leading the New York Knicks to seven straight wins despite being without Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony for much of that time.

In his six starts, he's averaged 24.3 points, 9.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 51 percent from the floor.

As an undrafted point guard out of Harvard, Lin has been one of the great underdog stories in years. He's not only become a sensation in Asia, he's been lauded throughout America, particularly in New York.

Lin provides the needed spark to make All-Star Weekend about more than the All-Star Game. Every shot he makes in the Rising Stars Challenge and Shooting Stars competition will draw applause, and you can bet he'll throw some crafty passes to teammate Iman Shumpert in the dunk contest as his partner.

The days of flipping channels back and forth while you wait for the All-Star Game is over. Lin is here, and he will surely dazzle.

The hype surrounding Lin is enough to boost Friday and Saturday's events. If he plays well (which I'm sure he will), you can expect that hype to soar even more. The whole nation will be tuning in to watch Lin, some for the first time.

There have been some questionable selections for All-Star Weekend, but the NBA got it right adding Lin into the mix. Not having him in Orlando would be a great disappointment.

Every time Lin touches the ball on Friday and Saturday, watch the crowd's reaction. That's all you need to know about whether he will boost All-Star Weekend significantly.