Jeremy Lin (Photo : Reuters)
Jeremy Lin may be having a so-so statistical season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but endorsement money keeps pouring right into the pockets of the Asian-American star. TAG Heuer, one of the leading watchmakers in the world, has become the latest company on the list of growing commercial sponsors for Lin.
Lin, who also serves as ambassador for sportswear giant Adidas and a multitude of companies in Asia, recently appeared in his first advert for TAG Heuer. Already a huge sporting figure himself, Lin accepted sets of challenges from fellow sports stars such as tennis star Maria Sharapova and Real Madrid goal-scoring machine Cristiano Ronaldo, and of course, TAG Heuer boss Jean-Claude Viver.
USA Today writer Micah Peters provided a description of the two-minute short flick featuring Lin, Sharapova, Ronaldo and Viver:
"Basically, Lin walks into a dimly lit basketball gym, and for some reason, thankfully for him, decided to pack a fully inflated soccer ball and a tennis racket in his duffle bag. He's then prompted by this huge multi-touch pad to complete a series of challenges from Maria Sharapova (who's not even looking at the camera), Cristiano Ronaldo, and finally TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Viver, all to earn a special edition watch that Viver already had made for him and was probably going to give him anyway."
Although this season's subpar showing with the Lakers certainly dealt a blow in his free-agency stock this summer, Lin's popularity has given himself another avenue to earn money and secure his future when his basketball days are over. The TAG Heuer commercial is a validation of Lin's growing influence that now extends beyond sports since Linsanity erupted at Madison Square Garden roughly three years ago.
Lin, who is expected to start in the final 10 games of the season (according to NBC report), is earning roughly $15MM this year alone, as the final part of the three-year, $25 million deal he signed with the Houston Rockets in 2012.
