USA/CHN – Lin back in the headlines

NEW YORK (NBA) - The hoopla surrounding Jeremy Lin's arrival to the NBA almost disappeared after the NBA All-Star break.

The New York Knicks went on a losing streak and coach Mike D'Antoni, the man Lin had called an offensive genius, resigned, making everyone in the Big Apple fear the good times with Lin had gone.

But the 23-year-old sensation and the Knicks have caught a second wind under new coach Mike Woodson.

The team has won three straight games and Lin is comfortable with his new coach.

It helped that Woodson said after taking the helm: "Jeremy is a big part of what we do. He's our starting point guard.

"He and I are on the same page."

During the three-game winning streak, Lin has averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 assists in 27.3 minutes.

On the season, he’s averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 assists in 26.6 minutes per game.

His 'come-out-of-nowhere' story has not only made the Harvard graduate one of the most exciting basketball players to watch in America, but won him endorsement opportunities.

From shoes and apparel, to wireless phones to cars - numerous companies have expressed an interest in having Lin serve as their pitch man.

He has appeal in the United States, China and Chinese-language markets in Asia.

How does he explain how his life has changed so quickly?

Lin, after all, was let go by Golden State after the NBA Lockout and the Houston Rockets signed him, only to let him go.

"It's a miracle," Lin said. "No one saw it coming.

"I can't take credit or everything. There are so many things out of my control.

"How did I end up in New York? The day the Rockets released me, Iman (Knicks guard Iman Shumpert) gets hurt.

"All of these different things are out of my control."

What has been in Lin's control has been his approach on the court this season.

"Last year, I tried really hard to fit in and be a player, change my game to fit the team," he said.

"This year, I told myself, 'I want to be a player that plays my brand of basketball and be really aggressive.'

"I told myself that I want to be sure to keep doing what I think my strength is and the way I think I'm supposed to be playing.

"And I'm just glad it turned out the way it did."

While Lin has won plenty of fans, there have been those who predict he will fail as opposing defenses better understand his game and attempt to neutralize his strengths.

There have been games when Lin has turned the ball over a lot.

Lin isn't too concerned.

"As I play through mistakes, I can grow as a player," he said.

"I think that is the most important thing.

"As long as I keep being aggressive, keep attacking, good things will happen. Bad things, too, but I just need to make sure I don't change my approach."

Before his emergence, the American-born graduate of Harvard University was invited to play for Chinese Taipei last summer but did not.

Lin could also play for China, although a future with Team USA is not out the realm of the possibility, either.

FIBA