Jeremy Lin Lighting up G League in NBA Comeback Attempt

Almost one decade after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin is making a splash again. This time though, it’s not in the NBA but it’s farm league, the G League.

The 32-year old Lin signed with the Santa Cruz Warriors last month in his bid to make an NBA comeback. Lin has not played in the NBA since being part of the Toronto Raptors team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He has played in China ever since but last year, decided that he was going to give the NBA another try. The Golden State Warriors had an interest in bringing Lin back but ultimately, they let Lin sign with their G League affiliate, at least for now.

Lighting Up the G-League

In his third G League game with the Warriors, Lin lit up the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World where the G League is currently having its bubble tournament. The former Harvard product put up 29 points on 9-12 shooting, including 7-9 from behind the three-point area with 9 assists as the Warriors defeated the Westchester Knicks 124-116.

JEREMY LIN’S SEVENTH THREE!

29 Pts

7-9 3-Pt FG

(via @nbagleague) pic.twitter.com/G2xsEI6RqF

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 14, 2021

The Warriors are just 1-2 to start their shortened G League season but that’s not Lin’s fault because after three games played, Lin is putting up impressive numbers. The former Knicks star is averaging 18 points, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while making 3.3 three-pointers per game at a very high 58.8% clip.

It’s not that Lin is playing out against world ballers because teams in the G League don’t put as much premium on defense as their “big brothers” in the NBA do, but when you’re shooting at the rate that Lin is right now, that’s pretty impressive and that’s going to turn some NBA scouts’ heads. So don’t be surprised if some playoff-bound NBA team suddenly gives Lin a ring.

Linsanity

In 2012, Lin had one of the most incredible runs by any player in the history of the NBA. Undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Lin found his way to the bottom of the Golden State Warriors bench during his rookie season and ended up playing for the New York Knicks the following years. After logging in just 55 total minutes in the Knicks’ first 23 games, Lin was given a chance to play by Mike D’Antoni for a team that lost 11 of their last 13 games.

On this day in 2012, “Linsanity” became real.

Jeremy Lin dropped 38 on the Lakers in his first national TV game.

Unforgettable run.pic.twitter.com/jPatP3Raup

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 10, 2021

Lin shone in his first extended action, scoring 25 points while grabbing 7 boards and issuing 5 assists as the Knicks finally won, beating the Nets 99-92. In their next game, he made his first NBA start and scored 28 points and 8 assists as the Knicks won two in a row. During the 26-game run known in NBA folklore as Linsanity, Lin averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 assists per game while the Knicks went 16-10 during that span.

But Lin’s rise was as fast as his fall, at least on the basketball court. After Linsanity ended with a meniscus tear, he would bounce around the league before winning a title with Toronto in 2019, as an end of the bench player. With no offers from any team, Lin decided to take his talents to China.

Pursuing the NBA Dream, Again

Lin had an impressive season in China’s CBA before the pandemic hit and despite having numerous offers to return to the CBA, he decided on giving the NBA one more try. The Golden State Warriors, the team which first signed him in the NBA in 2010, gave him an offer but to play in their farm team in the G League and Lin signed an Exhibit 10 deal with them last December. But this isn’t where Lin plans to end his career. He’s setting his sights on a higher goal.

Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) passed on significant offers in China to pursue NBA return through G League which begins Wednesday, says in @Stadium sitdown: “People think I’m crazy. There are definitely thoughts and fears I’ll always have to fight.” Also: Lessons from Linsanity. pic.twitter.com/eJ5djUxfn7

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2021

NBA betting sites have the Golden State Warriors with the 8th best odds to win the Western Conference. The Dubs are currently in 8th place in the Western Conference team standings and are likely to make a run for the final playoff spots in the conference. Steph Curry is having an MVP season but without Klay Thompson, they don’t have the same kind of shooting and firepower.

Golden State has added the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre to help Curry with the scoring load. But not only have both been erratic and inconsistent, but they also don’t have the experience to complement Curry and Draymond Green if and when they make the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if the Dubs resurrect Linsanity if he keeps up his impressive G League start.