Charlotte Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin had a spectacular seasowasn as he was vital to the success of the team this season. Now, the Linsanity star expressed his desire to play for the city for many more seasons even for a pay-cut.
Lin was the Hornet's sixth man and he was instrumental to the team landing the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They ultimately succumbed to the mighty Miami Heat in game seven, who are now facing the Toronto Raptors trailing three games to two.
Aside from the stellar play of starting point guard Kemba Walker, Lin has been superb in filling the gap left by Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the offensive end as both players spent most of the season on the injury list.
"This is the most fun I've had in my six years in the NBA. Being around a great group of guys and a coaching staff that really cares," Lin told The Sports Window. "I've learned so much about the game of basketball, particularly the defensive end."
Lin said that head coach Steve Clifford's tutelage made him a much better defender and his honesty was the key for the point guard to improve his shortcomings. Meanwhile, Lin is said to be the best player acquisition of the Hornets salary-wise, At The Hive reported. Lin just earned around $2 million but his production far exceeded that.
Lin averaged 26.8 minutes, 11.7 points and three assist per game and he loved how it turned out. It is worth noting that the Houston Rockets offered him a contract that net him over $30 million for four years which was later on dubbed as a poison pill contract.
This made Lin a subject for criticism as he was clearly overpaid compared to the numbers he was producing for the Rockets. Now, Lin is even willing to take a pay-cut just to stay with the Hornets. The 26 year-old remains true to his desire to be someone who is often unnoticed as he does not want too much attention on him.
However, nothing is set in stone as the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to offer Lin a hefty contract which may be hard to refuse. Fan will just have to wait for the off-season to kick-in and see where the point guard goes.
Here are Lin's best highlights as a Hornet.