Jeremy Lin scored 16 points against the Los Angeles Clippers during the NBA Global Games in China. (Photo : Twitter/Jeremy Lin)
The Charlotte Hornets officially introduced Jeremy Lin as the newest member of the team on Monday in Charlotte.
Lin, the Hornets' lone free-agency acquisition this offseason after making a series of trades to improve its offense, believed Charlotte presents a great opportunity for him to show off his better all-around skills and return to what he's really good at: attacking the rim.
"I want to get back to what makes me what I am as a player, which is being aggressive, being on the attack and always charging toward the rim," Lin told reporters during Monday's press conference via ESPN. "I think that will help create easier shots for this team."
After star-crossed seasons with the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, the 26-year Lin still thinks he's much better player today than he was at the height of Linsanity in New York more than three years ago. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the chance to use all these improvements in full length because of the specific role given to him with his past teams.
"I do believe I am a more refined player, a more all-around player," Lin added. "I do think the work I have put in has made me better. I just don't think I have had the same fit or opportunity."
Lin averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists in 25 minutes per game with the Lakers last season. Despite his 'shaky' relationship with head coach Byron Scott, the former Harvard standout somehow found a way to work things out in the second half of the season and finished with a career-best three-point percentage 37 percent.
Not gonna lie...im beasting my protein bar!! #creeperphotos https://t.co/usVDrSyHjN
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 14, 2015
Lin, who also brought down his turnovers to 2.2 per game, is one of several acquisitions made by general manager Rich Cho to address their anemic offense. The Hornets also acquired small forward Nicolas Batum, swingman Jeremy Lamb, big man Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky (the 9th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft).
According to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, Lin signed a two-year, 4.3 million deal with a player option on the second year.
