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Jeremy Lin Is Not the Brooklyn Nets’ Savior, But That’s Okay

By Charles Daye

Dec 12, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets recently announced that point guard Jeremy Lin will miss an additional three to five weeks after re-injuring his hamstring. Lin has only played in a dozen games, and over half the season is already in the books.

Jeremy Lin is not the savior of the Brooklyn Nets, and in all fairness, that’s not why general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson brought him here. Lin wanted another chance at being a starting point guard for an NBA franchise.

His old assistant coach, who is all about opportunity, knew what Lin could do if given a chance. Marks wanted a selfless, team oriented culture; Atkinson wanted a fast-paced offense, and the un-drafted point guard out of Harvard fit the requirements.

Lin has only played in 12 games for the Nets due to injuries. In those games, he is averaging about 14 points and six assists per game, which is better than his career averages of 11.8 points and 4.4 assists per game.

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Let’s get this out the way, Linsanity was back in 2012. Lin’s situation with the Nets is significantly different than it was with the Knicks. Linsanity was only a 35-game stretch (25 starts), and he averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 6.2 assists. Lin has yet to put up numbers like that again.

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Now take into consideration that Lin is 28 years old and has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.  The only season Lin did start all 82 games was the 2012-2013 season for the Houston Rockets when he averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists. The Rockets made the playoffs and Lin only started three of their four post-season games. He averaged an abysmal four points and two assists. Objectively speaking, these statistics are not that of a franchise floor general.

To be honest, criticizing Lin for not living up to the hype he obtained from Knicks fans and the New York media is unfair. He played well as a back-up point guard in Charlotte and could arguably be the best back-up point guard in the league if he were to accept that role.

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Lin has been nothing but positive in the locker room this season, mentoring rookie Isaiah Whitehead and leading from court side in his street clothes during games. The “Brooklyn Grit” culture seems to be manifesting and Lin has played a positive role in it, despite being sidelined. However, the power of positivity doesn’t equate to wins and the Nets need to figure out a way to compete since they lack ownership of their own destiny until 2019.

Brooklyn has the worst record in the league. Yet if Whitehead continues to improve, the argument can be made that the starting point guard spot is his to lose next season.  Nothing tangible can indicate Lin is the untouchable floor general. Regardless of what his some may believe, Lin is not the franchise; he is a cultural building block for the future.

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The Brooklyn Nets are rebuilding from the ashes of the Billy King era. Linsanity is the past, it’s time to embrace the future.