Jeremy Lin. (Photo : Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford had reportedly said that backup point guard Jeremy Lin will continue to come off the bench for his squad despite the six-year veteran's increased production in their recent games this season.
Lin recently scored 29 and 21 points in back-to-back games against the San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets, sinking a combined 63 percent of his field goals in the two contests, which instigated rumors that the 27-year-old Torrance, California native could replace or start alongside point guard Kemba Walker in the Hornets' first five.
However, the 54-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks assistant coach was quick to debunk the speculations "barring an injury", as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
"He's come off the bench all year. Most of his NBA career he's been coming off the bench," said Clifford. "That's where it's going to be. That's his role."
Lin was acquired by Charlotte last summer and signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal with Michael Jordan's ballclub. While it was expected since then that the 6-foot-3 playmaker will only play as primary substitute for the mercurial Walker, a lot of Hornets fans have recently been expressing their wishes of Lin being moved in the starting lineup especially after his two straight stand out performances.
However, ESPN noted that the former Harvard standout "will likely choose to become a free agent in July" as he has a player option at the end of the season that is only worth $2.42 million for 2016-2017.
The report continued that Lin's representatives and the Hornets' will most likely begin their "contract negotiations early on July 1" as Charlotte is said to be keen on keeping the Asian-American in their roster for next season.
"I think being comfortable and not thinking as much on the court and letting the ball fly and having fun," said Lin when asked about his recent good form, as per the San Jose Mercury News. "Shots are going in and I think that helps me, helps open up my drive."
Lin currently averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists playing in almost 26 minutes a night in 70 games so far for the Hornets this season, mainly as the sixth man off the bench.
