Jeremy Lin (INTERVIEW)
Jeremy Lin
The “Linsanity” Interview
with Kam Williams
Oh, the Linsanity!
Jeremy
Lin was born in Los Angeles,
California on August 23, 1988 to
Taiwanese immigrant parents. Encouraged by his father, he developed a love of basketball
at an early age.
Raised
in a Christian family, Jeremy’s faith guided and supported him as he chased his
hoop dream of playing basketball in the NBA. Known for his relentless work off
court and on, the young phenom led his Palo
Alto high school team to a state title against
nationally-ranked Mater Dei, an overwhelming favorite.
Despite
his All-State level play, however, no Division 1 college recruited Jeremy. So,
he enrolled at Harvard
University, which does not
offer athletic scholarships.
Undrafted
by the NBA out of college, he nevertheless impressed scouts in the summer
league going up against the No. 1 draft pick. He was eventually signed—but
later cut—by the Golden State Warriors.
A
brief stint in Houston
ended unceremoniously on Christmas Day, 2011. Jeremy was subsequently picked up
by the New York Knicks. In early 2012, on the verge of being cut again, he rose
to prominence as a starter, unlikely team leader and improbable NBA sensation.
“Linsanity”
was born! He’s been the Houston Rockets’ starting point guard since landing a
three-year, $25 million deal. Whether facing racial taunts as a child, or being
underestimated on the court, Jeremy Lin consistently points to his faith as his
means of dealing with both disappointment and success.
Here, he
talks about Linsanity, the new documentary chronicling both his commitment to
Christ and his meteoric rise to superstardom.
Kam
Williams: Hi Jeremy, thanks for the interview.
Jeremy Lin:
My pleasure, Kam.
KW:
Why did you allow a film crew to shoot this documentary,
especially since they started following you around while you were still at
Harvard, well before you became an overnight NBA sensation? Did you have a
hunch about how your story was going to turn out?
JL:
I agreed to film after my rookie
year in Golden State. I was more used to cameras and
felt that my journey to the NBA was a story worth sharing. Little did we know
how much bigger the platform and documentary would become after
Linsanity.
KW:
I know you were raised by a father who loved basketball and
a mother who encouraged you to pursue your dream. But would you nevertheless
say that they put even more of an emphasis on faith, family and academics?
JL:
Absolutely! Faith, family,
academics and then sports was the order of priorities in my family. My parents
really stuck to these principles when raising me and my two brothers. As long
as we took care of everything, they let us play as much basketball as we wanted.
KW:
Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: Thanks
for your wonderful stint with the Knicks. We fans miss you. I wish I were with
management and could have kept you here. What’s the difference between
playing for a New York team and playing for
the Rockets, a Texas
team?
JL:
The biggest difference is the
change in culture in terms of the city. New
York is fast paced, with enthusiastic fans and lots
of media attention. Houston's
slower paced and there's more of a southern culture to the city. But both
cities have unbelievable food.
KW:
The Mike Pittman question: What was your
best career decision?
JL:
My best career decision was probably not giving up when I
wanted to. God as well as my family and friends were there for me during my
toughest times.
KW: What advice do you have for
anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
JL:
First, get to know who Jesus Christ is, or
at least explore a relationship with Him. Second, have fun! Third, pursue your
passion wholeheartedly. Never let someone else tell you what you aren't capable
of.
KW:
Thanks again for the time, Jeremy, and best of luck with the
film and in the upcoming season.
JL:
Thank you, Kam.
To see a trailer for
Linsanity, visit:
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