born august american professional basketball player national_basketball_association nba unexpectedly led winning turnaround generated global following known grew earned player year honors senior high school receiving athletic scholarship offers attended harvard_university time conference player ivy league college reached partially guaranteed contract deal hometown seldom played rookie season assigned times waived warriors houston rockets following preseason joining early season continued played spent time february led winning streak new_york promoted starting lineup summer signed year contract rockets played seasons acquired trade played season signing signed brooklyn following season asian americans nba history american chinese descent play league known public expression christianity early life born city raised christian family city parents emigrated taiwan united_states mid-1970s settling virginia moving indiana attended universities dual nationals taiwan paternal family comes taiwan maternal grandmother emigrated taiwan late 1940s mainland china parents feet inches tall maternal grandmother family tall father feet inches older brother younger brother joseph taught sons play basketball local helped form program played worked coaches ensure playing affect academics criticized friends letting play basketball let play game enjoyed high school career senior year captained record upset nationally ranked division state title named team state year ending senior year averaging points assists rebounds steals college career recruiting process sent dvd highlights high school basketball career ivy league schools dream schools stanford ucla schools wanted walk actively recruited offered sports scholarship harvard brown teams guaranteed spot basketball teams ivy league schools offer athletic scholarships men basketball coach retired nba player said ncaa limits coaches recruiting visits impact chances colleges start recruiting guy minutes runs fast jumps high quick easy thing evaluate said added think order understand game watch going extra athletic july harvard assistant coach saw feet inches fit physical attributes seeking grade point average high school met harvard academic standards initially unimpressed court abilities told high school basketball coach division iii player later week saw playing competitive game driving basket opportunity instincts killer priority harvard coaches feared stanford close home offer scholarship chose attend harvard wasn sitting saying division coaches said legitimate questions incoming warriors owner stanford said stanford failure recruit stupid kid right street recognize got problem ucla assistant offered opportunity walk said probably ended starting point guard ucla harvard harvard coach remembered freshman season physically weakest guy team sophomore season averaged points named ivy league second team junior year season ncaa division men basketball player ranked conference scoring assists steals blocked shots field goal percentage free throw percentage point shot percentage consensus selection ivy league team points assists rebounds win 17th ranked days eagles defeated north_carolina senior year averaged points rebounds assists steals blocks unanimous selection ivy league team midseason candidates finalists invited espn picked versatile players college basketball gained national attention performance 12th ranked scored career high tying points grabbed rebounds road game coach said seen lot teams come play got great great court knows play season harvard set numerous program records including wins non conference wins home wins road neutral wins finished career player history ivy league record points rebounds assists steals graduated harvard degree economics grade point average professional career portsmouth met sports agent later gave commitment disappointment team chose nba draft nba drafted ivy league player penn second round ivy league player play nba yale harvard player teams invited said nba play acknowledged played basketball like scouts saw new_york_times later described smart flawed jump shot thin frame strength defend create shot finish rim joined dallas mini camp team las_vegas general manager offered invitation play took care said different type vision people games playing guard positions averaged points rebounds assists steals minutes game shot team leading floor overall pick scored points wall shooting minutes wall minutes wall received biggest cheer player introductions crowd turned wall cheering end game reluctant play overseas nba offer planned year finding non basketball related job summer league received offers golden state warriors unnamed team july signed year deal hometown warriors favorite team growing deal partially guaranteed warriors held team option second season deal included year salary close half guaranteed said teams higher wanted play warriors agent negotiated deal signed year guaranteed contract jersey sale nba game warriors held press conference signing national media attendance surprising rookie said warriors coach wrote cult following signing large asian american population celebrated arrival american chinese descent play nba received ovation night warriors home exhibition opener entered game fourth quarter crowd started chanting quarter touched remember forever said month season fans continued root play end games time touched ball drew cheers crowd road writers attention unique story successful asian american basketball player played relaxed road felt scrutiny pressure perform acknowledged expectations warned won star year support especially asian american community preferred concentrate play attention proven anybody smart saw skilled getting paint needed learn pass said couldn shoot ball coach noticed player arrived early practice left late studied rehearsed point guards pick roll plays wrote spoke occasional seeds self doubt said uncommon hear nba hughes found rare compared backup point guard freak athlete effective know play game said runner rookie year received interview requests warrior team officials regularly denied requests help focus approached subject documentaries smart planned pressure tendency hard frustrated coach admitted succumbed home crowd wishes game wrong situation received little playing time season dominant ball handling guards starring warriors initially competed later law playing time backup point guard started regular season warriors inactive list nba debut game warriors asian heritage night received standing ovation entered game final minutes game scored nba basket assists recorded steals played minutes quarter committed played role run warriors loss defending nba champions guard praised energy toronto november held asian heritage night coincide visit warriors members toronto chinese media covered game road loss scored career high points minutes scoring seven total points games times season assigned warriors league affiliate time later recalled warriors competed nba league showcase named nba league january helped lead record showcase averages points rebounds assists steals posted season high points march games averaged points rebounds assists initially felt good play nba later realized learning getting playing time received warriors credited coach helping regain recalled good scorer skilled floor committed offensive believed good drive ability teach player continued improve pick roll handle double teams traps improved jump shot especially noticed nba player received class airplane tickets gave teammates warriors saw potential backup said team received trade offer league happy progress free agent minimum inexpensive asset need look developing asset going superstar finished rookie nba season averaging points percent shooting games offseason recovered injury knee nba september played games club china named mvp tournament president nba star tried unsuccessfully sign upcoming season explained contract golden state warriors play league admit nba free agents days lifted november close signing undisclosed club italy worked improve jump shot offseason abandoning shooting form eighth grade increased strength doubling weight pounds number pull ups increased body weight pounds including pounds muscle added inches standing vertical jump inches running vertical jump improved lateral percent got chance new warriors coach day training camp december warriors waived favorite warriors freeing salary cap space offer restricted free agent center fully guaranteed february san_francisco_chronicle said trouble beating rookie guard claimed december played seven minutes pre season games houston point guards guaranteed contracts rockets waived december start season clear payroll sign center december injury guard claimed backup recently signed guard injured weeks away able play coaches little opportunity play placed fourth point guard depth chart stated competing backup spot people saw 12th 15th guy roster numbers game continued arrive practice leave intensely studying game film working coaches improve judgment season debut road warriors warmly return january assigned january scored triple double points rebounds assists victory days later recalled fearful cut asked chaplain prayer service pray released consider playing europe returning taking non basketball job january davis postponed debut elbow infection pain new_york considered releasing contract guaranteed february sign new player fourth quarter lead february loss coach decided chance play desperation according experts got lucky playing bad said played minutes games unexpectedly led turnaround team lost games february star guard points rebounds seven assists career highs victory suggested coach halftime play second half game said point guard mentality rhyme reason subsequent game utah jazz career start playing stars anthony left game injury older brother died points assists win anthony missed seven games respectively stated jazz game intended ride like basketball trainer said statement confidence soon coach incredibly rare likely gave confidence continue play aggressively despite making mistakes win played points assists double double february scored new career high points seven assists leading victory points february scored points assists narrow victory named week averaging points assists steals starts going undefeated february second remaining scored game winning win toronto basket amazed watching veteran player peace ran reporters shouting waving hands head nba player score points seven assists starts scored points career starts respectively player merger nba following game sacramento kings recorded assists led new_york record started receiving major playing time starting winning streak ended loss scored points seven career starts individual began tracked february win scored points tallied career highs assists steals usa today wrote matter dallas threw double teams traps tall defenders smaller defenders thin found way victory defending nba champions february wade miami heat argued guard heat going field committing eventual nba champions focused entire defense experience described terrifying felt like like hawks staring starts star break averaged points assists new_york record played rising stars challenge omitted original rising stars roster added sudden rise stardom media outlets including usa_today los_angeles_times stated deserved play star game march replaced ran fewer pick rolls isolation plays excelled running pick rolls march game complained sore knee later revealed small tear left knee opted knee surgery missed remainder regular season averaged points assists games everyday player games averaged points assists shooting percent field seven games averaged points assists games averaged points assists shot percent dealing undisclosed knee injury restricted free agent end season new_york_times called popular player decade success games left teams uncertain overall standing league point guards believed bench player houston rockets offseason encouraged seek offers press expected team sign given need young guard good play worldwide popularity espn reported match offer billion rockets offered million contract years fourth year deal team option true commitment million said match houston offer starting point guard rockets offered revised year million deal anthony called ridiculous match deal team decision signed instead years houston offer paid million million respectively followed million year higher salary final year known poison intended discourage new_york matching offer including luxury tax cost estimated million failure match offer surprised observers given team history high fourth highest paid having traded lost free agency rockets center preseason new age publicity campaign initial ads houston coming performance new_york houston coach said expectations said public believed average points assists played game season shortly regular season opener october rockets acquired supplanted face team season placed pressure live expectations ball dominant pick roll player like chose offense run proven rockets started season record youngest roster league averaging points assists struggling shooting percent percent handling ball controlling ball pick rolls wing rockets game november faced time leaving free agent entered best record league houston won home contributed points seven rebounds assists shot making half shots time games breaking personal game drought continued struggle began losing playing time backup sitting injured december scored points overtime loss performance reminiscent play shot percent jump shots game entering contest shot percent percent year earlier numbers season suggested productive individually bench critic ahead terrible said facing game new_york houston won handing home loss games points assists introductions game began miles south fans packed restaurant bars play star game held houston finishing voting starting guards selected instead compete star weekend scoring shooting percentage point percentage improved star break finished season averages points assists center rockets play games houston qualified playoffs lost round games seed suffered bruised chest game limited game sidelined games returned final game coming bench points minutes replaced rockets starting lineup second unit primary ball scoring option team sixth man houston liked beginning games defensive pressure preferred increasing playing time court attacking players struggled defensively november established highest game scoring total career points including season highs points assists rockets record tying start place injured followed point performance win new_york received round applause entering game subdued return november right knee atlanta hawks causing miss games missed additional games december started return december injured estimated weeks fractured right hand february recorded points rebounds assists career triple double minutes bench home victory rocket notch triple double bench went shooting slump star break experienced problems finished season starts averages points assists game career highs field goal percentage point percentage free throw percentage shot percent drives season exceeded percent league playoffs averaged points bench houston lost games scored points game win extended rockets season offseason rockets pursued teammate anthony free agency showed images outside arena anthony houston jersey bearing july traded second round pick exchange rights rockets clear cap space attempt sign free agent owed million final year contract million counted salary cap role season team moved starting lineup late preseason injury started games season struggled coach offense based player ball movement princeton offense comfortable dominating ball attacking pick roll new_york houston team poor start scott attempted improve poor defense moving bench favor price disappointed calling toughest situations january scott promoted rookie start price chose play healthy loss san_antonio trailed playing previously played game season averaging points assists games time healthy play february days logged career highs new_jersey dawn scored season high march win philadelphia scott returned starting lineup march teammate filipino asian americans start nba history missed games season upper respiratory infection july signed year million contract annual exception deal open joining new_york interested having drafted guard pair veteran point guard projected point guard coach envisioned pick roll players play debut team season opener miami heat october scoring points bench loss december scored season high points overtime win toronto march scored points fourth quarter help charlotte rally deficit second quarter comeback victory san_antonio snapping spurs game winning streak charlotte team score seven points fewer opening quarter come win largest comeback surrendered spurs era began field hit point attempts including fourth quarter provided ahead seconds left season came end defeated heat round playoffs declining million player option season free agent july brooklyn nets present july signed multi year contract career statistics college nba regular season playoffs international career addition citizen descent parents national taiwan qualify taiwan passport record having invited play chinese men national basketball team competitions july play charity game said decision represent chinese taiwan international sporting competitions june included preliminary squad players asia championship month announced included roster knee injury media reported declined offer play tournament denied having approached named usa olympic team candidates participate restricted free agent status player profile apart capable established strong fast paced offensive player attacks basket pick roll improved outside shooting early career threat point range considered difficult defend times ability free throw line admitted risk criticized tendency commit mediocre defense racial issues time wrote zero division scholarship offers don doubt little racial intentional contributed stated african american different deal think race affected recruiting later seeing division coaches express interest black student assessed nice junior college player said saying state automatically gets offers think ethnicity affect way coaches recruited think different race treated differently added people don think stereotypes exist crazy white good shooter asian good math taking college career fewer men division basketball players asian american harvard uncomfortable attention ethnicity opposed performance regularly heard games soup sweet sour pork open eyes china orchestra campus pseudo chinese said occurred ivy league react expect said came opposing fans players according harvard teammate oliver fellow ivy league player called ethnic january harvard played miles hometown california playing capacity crowd included asian americans wanting homecoming teammates told like hong_kong considers basketball player asian american understands nba maybe help break stereotype said feel like general don respect deserve comes sports basketball said prior nba season americans asian descent played nba included carrying hopes entire continent carry hopes arkansas accomplished lot said won nba championships game setting example prospective asian athletes america rarely asian americans playing favorite teams don look japanese said referring mother ethnicity asian american based comments heard talents stated minutes interview gut feeling ethnicity contributed nba commissioner believed drafted discrimination don know harvard asian said stern fans commentators wrote warriors signing publicity stunt team general manager denied catering large asian population understood people way evaluated summer league riley said happen confirm believed team created campaign riley said basketball player february middle career game columnist posted twitter lucky lady gon feel couple inches pain tonight reference sexual prowess wrote reinforced small asian stereotype demanded apology feel good sports moment truly sorry apologized boxer floyd wrote twitter page good player hype asian black players night don praise response noted skin color history basketball starts pulled week february game coverage showed fan sign face fortune words good fortune viewed ethnic stereotype wrote sign questionable called teammates criticized games february espn racial mobile website headline armor new_york loss removed minutes later espn apologized network fired employee posted headline suspended anchor reference earlier week apologized radio announcer phrase espn new_york employee madison square garden espn apologized disciplined saturday night live ethnic pointing difference society reaction racial jokes asian people versus racial jokes black people sports commentators featured happily making jokes race fourth drew contempt making similar comments black players espn received suggesting subjected racial manner african americans created frozen honor named taste contained honey fortune pieces company later replaced fortune apologized offended flavor wrote heightened ethnic sensitivity asian americans way impact far madison square garden released set guidelines media response termed factual background number references rely stereotypes asian americans november espn anchor apologized air commenting cooking hot oil point performance helped houston win interview expressed belief perceptions impacted reputation player turnover prone unable use hands despite statistics suggested improved areas cited notion poor defender belief lacked speed stated quickest athletes worked acknowledged non black basketball player performance said people meaning harm assume asian basketball player time went pro game san_francisco security guard informed sorry sir tonight basketball early stint security guard madison square garden stopped entering players entrance trainer signing year nba veteran convince security player public image popular youtube account videos youtube personalities teammate fields appeared channel revealing secret content partner adding youtube channel roughly subscribers exchange undisclosed equity stake athlete major sports leagues united_states produce content digital sports platform video interview conducted asked felt representing people responded stating privilege honor proud chinese proud parents taiwan thank god opportunity july overseas chinese named influential chinese americans april named list influential people world june announced winner year award winner epic award july won award breakthrough athlete year unveiled wax figure likeness san_francisco branch starter associated_press called surprising story nba wrote famous asian american nba player fans developed nicknames new inspired popular word excitement ran article titled official real hall fame player said excitement caused madison square garden man hadn seen long time appeared cover sports_illustrated headline odds times called greatest tribute cover time asia forbes wrote cover time number times reigns story page newspapers haven fair player created interest short period time sport aware like said nba commissioner success play reportedly contributed end dispute days prevented customers watching games programs team quickly began selling shirts sales traffic online store increased merchandise dominated displays stores team high priced stars moved sale racks best selling jersey nba february march year period ending april second highest selling jersey league introduced related athletic expected fame help sales china popularity attributed growing nba popularity retirement offseason audience nba games television online china rose percent previous season weeks game starter seven books published declared met criteria considered english language word appeared second consecutive sports_illustrated cover new_york based team athlete nba player magazine history jordan new_york_city restaurants introduced new food bar items honor city residents chinese descent larger entire populations nba cities like miami atlanta cleveland viewing parties watch play flourished manhattan airline advertised low prices bids rookie card exceeded press circulated rumors denied dating foreign policy speculated potential impact sino american relations jack wrote rise lesson business leaders let bureaucracy talent despite sudden fame sacramento kings coach stated knew humble guy guy changed bit real special young man word strangers likeness attempted trademark term week february united_states patent ultimately registered term documentary film titled premiered january film festival shown numerous film festivals making way art houses endorsements turned sponsorship deals offered stated declined tens millions dollars endorsement opportunities peak think purpose play basketball play play glory god said called business outside basketball definitely secondary primary job endorsed following brands career personal life evangelical christian leader harvard time credited nba success playing pressure surrendered god battle everybody thinks anymore said hopes pastor head non profit organizations home abroad talked working inner city communities help children younger brother joseph plays basketball older brother dental student said understands use help speaking read write little took classes attending harvard try improve joining slept couch brother bedroom apartment manhattan new_york_city night breakout game slept couch teammate fields relocated luxury new_york contract guaranteed publicly declared favorite playing video game having fan predecessor sophomore year high school appeared free play documentary centered game described way life helped better connect family friends
Jeremy Lin