Be honest here — if you suddenly you went from relative obscurity to huge international star, a lot of things would go to your head. And the temptations of excess would get the better of many.
What you have to appreciate here is a level of reflection and self-awareness on the part of Jeremy Lin we rarely see from professional athletes, or really any 23-year-old anywhere.
He opened up to the Mercury News about his sudden rise to fame, and his move this summer from New York to Houston (via SLAM):“If I’m being honest, in some ways, yes (Linsanity did get into his head),” Lin told this newspaper. “I fought it every day. But I think subconsciously it had its effect, everyone catering to you. People were saying only good things for so long that when people said negative stuff, it was like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on?'…
“I will always, always have doubters,” Lin said. “But I really want to reach my potential to bring glory to God. That is more motivation than haters and doubters. I want to work just as hard, give just as much, whether or not I have haters.”
Is Lin going to pan out on the court for the Rockets? We’ll see. The ultimate results likely end up being a little yes (especially if they can use him in up-tempo situations and the pick-and-roll surrounded by shooters) and a little no.
But you have to say this for Lin — his head is in the right place to take on the challenge. He’s grounded. And that is going to be a big boost.
