New Charlotte Hornets point guard Jeremy Lin admitted that he wanted to return for a second stint with the New York Knicks this season, but the Big Apple franchise was reportedly not interested. Instead, he settled with Michael Jordan's club, who said that the 27-year-old Asian American is his team's "biggest acquisition."
"There was no conversation other than them telling me they weren't interested," the five-year pro told reporters before the Hornets' 97-93 preseason win against the Knicks which he sat out, as reported by the New York Daily News.
Lin, who was an undrafted player from Harvard in 2010, began his career as a third-tier bench player with the Golden State Warriors. However, he found global popularity a year later with the Knicks when then head coach Mike D'Antoni gave him the opportunity to start the team in consecutive games because of injuries to their point guards.
He went on to lead New York to a high-profile 7-game winning streak now known as "Linsanity", when he averaged 25 points and nine assists in a span of nine games total.
The Torrance, California native was then snagged by the Houston Rockets the following season by giving him a multi-million dollar contract that the Knicks did not match. He had been struggling with his game ever since then even as he was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
The Taiwanese-American is looking for a brand new start with Jordan and the Hornets this season.
Reportedly, the greatest basketball player of all-time spoke highly of Lin in a media interview, specifically mentioning the two-time All-Ivy League first-teamer as his team's "biggest acquisition" and that he has all the attributes of the floor general they are looking for.
"His penetration, his shooting capability, his point guard savvy, he can really pass the basketball, his energy about the game of basketball (is) something," Jordan said, as per Fox Sports.