Earlier this month, Jeremy Lin announced that he will be joining the Brooklyn Nets. Although this signifies the return of Linsanity to New York, there is still the question about Lin's ability as a starting point guard for the team.
During the weekend, Lin made his return to New York official by signing a three-year contract worth $36 million with the Nets. And, for the first time in his career in the NBA, he will be serving as a starter of the Brooklyn franchise.
It may seem a bit daunting for Lin to immediately take on a starting role for a new team but for him, he knows that he's ready for this opportunity. He's also aware of the fact that his effectiveness as the main point guard will largely depend on his teammates, such as center Brook Lopez.
"It's going to be collective, and Brook is going to be a big, big part of it as well as other players," Lin told ESPN. "But I'm definitely coming in [understanding] what my role is. I'm the playmaker. I'm the point guard. I've got to lead. I've got to be an extension of the coach, and I'm not shying away from the role at all."
"For me, being 27 now, that's something I wanted," he added. "It's a challenge I wanted to embrace, and I can't wait to do that."
Lin has been in the NBA since 2010 but he only managed to get the attention of the general public in 2011 when the Linsanity phenomenon emerged. Back then, he was playing for the New York Knicks and averaging 14.6 points per game.
Although his fans are expecting the phenomenon to return now that he's in Brooklyn, Lin noted that he's already over the whole Linsanity type and is now more focused on growing as a player.
"I am pretty far removed from that," he said. "I don't forget about it like it's a bad memory. But for me, I am so far past that. In terms of expectations, when I talk about me growing as a person one of those ways is the expectations for myself, from the team."
"Expectations are going to be the same for me," he added. "I am going to go in and keep my mind right, keep trying to play for God."
