Former Brooklyn Net Jeremy Lin Bids Farewell to NBA

The NBA bid farewell to ex-Brooklyn Net Jeremy Lin, let’s look back and reflect on his brief time spent in with the organization.

Although today we remember Jeremy Lin‘s time with the Brooklyn Nets as one lacking any real prosperity or fruitfulness as his injuries constantly imprisoned him on the team’s bench, he once stood in as perhaps the number one candidate to lead the team through its rebuilding stages, long before we all knew names such as Spencer Dinwiddie, D’Angelo Russell, and Caris LeVert.

However, the Harvard product who also once provided some false hope for the Big Apple’s other team alerted the NBA on Tuesday about his plans to end his rollercoaster ride with the NBA and join the Beijing Ducks.

After signing a three–year deal with Brooklyn way back before the 2016 season, Lin appeared in only 37 games as a Net. When healthy, however, Lin managed to play admirably as he averaged 14.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per–game.

These numbers impress when comparing them to his career marks, which barring any return to the league from Lin finish out at 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per–game.

Earlier this summer, Lin mentioned his gradual decline from his spotlight–stealing “Linsanity” days towards a bench player who only served to eat up “garbage time” minutes for the Toronto Raptors. Certainly foreshadowing his decision this week,  Lin even claimed the NBA had “given up on him.”

While his first couple games as a Net may seem difficult to recall today, they most definitely encapsulated his most impressive moments with the team.

Lin even flirted with a triple-double after scoring 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, Lin lead Brooklyn to a victory during the team’s home opener in 2016. During a tough season in which the Nets warranted only occasional chances for fans to get up and cheer after winning only 20 games, Lin’s inaugural performance deserves appreciation when taking into account the success drought plaguing the city at the time.

Looking to re–create that production away from the NBA, Lin simultaneously joins the continually expanding assembly of former star NBA alumni to play overseas after watching their careers take less lucrative turns. Allen Iverson, Dominique Wilkins, and Magic Johnson headline this “basketball abroad” trend. Another well–known star, Stephon Marbury, also played in China for the same team Lin plans to join this year.

Despite Lin’s inconsistencies during his NBA journey, a large fanbase supporting him managed to maintain a notable presence no matter which city Lin called home at the time.

After Toronto captured its first NBA title this summer, “NBA Twitter” made sure to acknowledge Lin as an NBA Champ despite his minor contributions to the team’s championship effort.

With all that said, these former cheers which have seemed to follow Lin into Brooklyn, as well as the 7 cities he’s played in, even during his turbulent career now translate into best wishes for the recently turned 31 year–old point guard, as he looks to keep the ball bouncing outside the NBA.