Jeremy Lin has certainly had a more interesting career in the NBA than other players. The point guard was an overnight sensation with the New York Knicks. He put together an impressive string of games causing him to be the most beloved person in New York and amongst NBA fans in general. Linsanity had caught on, but after Lin was traded to the Rockets, the raised expectations were hard to meet.
Lin admitted while speaking at a youth conference in Taiwan that the expectations he placed on himself to follow up with Linsanity were simply too high. He had the goal of trying to save the Houston Rockets and found that his play suffered as a result.
"I became so obsessed with becoming a great basketball player ... trying to be Linsanity, being this phenomenon that took the NBA by storm," Lin said. "The coaches were losing faith in me; basketball fans were making fun of me. ... I was supposed to be joyful and free, but what I experienced was the opposite. I had no joy, and I felt no freedom."
Last season, Lin along with James Harden were considered two of the marquee signings for the Rockets. Following Linsanity, the point guard signed a three-year, $25 million contract. But, instead of saving the Rockets, he only managed to average 13.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. That was not exactly what the coaches were looking for and not what Lin wanted either. The point guard quickly realized just how dangerous success can be.
"The one thing I learned was how empty fame and worldly success really are. ... The desire for success never stopped," Lin said. "If the voice that you listen to the most isn't God's voice, then eventually you will experience that emptiness, confusion and misery that I felt when I listened to the voice of Linsanity."
After the Rockets signed Dwight Howard this offseason, rumors ran that Lin would soon be traded following his disappointing year. All in all, everything worked out and Lin will be one of the core members to pair alongside Harden and Howard this upcoming season. If all goes according to plan, the Rockets will be one of the better teams in a very competitive Western Conference.
