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When Jeremy Lin used to enter the Garden during his first weeks as a Knick, arena security didn’t believe he was a player. They mistook him for one of the trainers. Lin had to talk his way through the player’s entrance, according to his agent Roger Montgomery.
Now everybody knows Lin’s name.
The Knicks point-guard savior will get the red-carpet treatment tonight when he enters the Garden to cap “The Week of Lin.’’ It will be one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent memory and an overflow of Chinese media will be on hand.
The Lakers and their purple and gold invade the Garden tonight and enter the fairy tale that is Jeremy Lin’s Knicks. Walking on air after a three-game “Linning” streak, the Knicks (11-15) feel they can turn the whole thing around because of Lin’s stunning emergence at their weakest position. It’s like a Disney film.
Kobe Bryant has buzz. Lin has bigger buzz.
“He’s a fan favorite around the league,’’ Tyson Chandler said. “I’m excited for him because when that happens it means we’re winning. I hope the (Jeremy) chants continue. ‘’
Lin grew up in the Bay Area and made it clear he has never been a fan of La-La land or the Lake Show.
“I was raised in north Cal,’’ Lin said. “I was born in LA but we won’t talk about that. I’ve been a Warriors fan my whole life.’’
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The Knicks won’t have Carmelo Anthony (strained groin) or Amar’e Stoudemire (grieving his brother’s death), but nobody seems to mind anymore. Lin has transformed this group of role players into a true team with his selfless play and basket attacks that has Mike D’Antoni’s speedball offense humming again. Making like Steve Nash, Lin is saving D’Antoni’s job and the Knicks’ season at the same time.
“Just so happy for the kid,’’ Chandler said. “What he brings to the team is invaluable. He has everyone feeling confident again.’’
Lin, the most unassuming international star on the planet, was sleeping on Landry Fields’ couch just one week ago. Lin had been staying at his brother’s place in Manhattan but got kicked out because of a party.
He has now scored 20-plus points in three straight games, compiling 7, 8 and 10 assists respectively. His 76 points in the three games matches his rookie total in Golden State.
Lin’s surges to the rim have become so commonplace, Kobe may have to defend him. Bryant hauls in $1.56M each bi-weekly paycheck. Lin’s check reads $47,197.
“I’ve played with as much emotion and energy as I can,’’ Lin said after Wednesday’s rout in Washington. “ I let it all hang out when I get out there and I don’t try to hold too much back.’’
Lin has created a euphoria in the locker room. The possibilities seem endless when Stoudemire gets back, especially if Anthony can adapt to this new team concept in which Lin runs the show and has the ball. The Knicks’ last two victories – against Utah and the Wizards – have come without either of their two superstars, turning the NBA caste system on its head.
“The whole team is playing with so much chemistry right now,’’ Lin said. “We’re just buying in and getting more comfortable. Earlier we were making strides but we weren’t winning games. People didn’t necessarily see it. Now we’re winning games and it gives us more confidence.’’
The Knicks didn’t practice yesterday but Lin showed up for treatment. The biggest concern is Lin wearing down after playing 35-plus minutes in each of the three games.
“It’s really hard to play heavy minutes,’’ said Lin, who suffered a deep cut on his chin after a collision with the Wizards’ John Wall. “You get really tired. I just have a new respect for everyone who plays this many minutes every night.’’
“He’s going to get beat up,’’ D’Antoni said.
D’Antoni said he doesn’t think Lin, the undrafted Harvard PG, is a flash in the pan after outplaying Deron Williams, Devin Harris and Wall. Before D’Antoni turned to Lin last Saturday, the Knicks couldn’t run a pick-and-roll – a staple of D’Antoni’s attack. Now they live off it, with Lin hitting cutters and making lobs to Chandler and Jared Jeffries at the hoop.
“If you run enough of them [pick-and-rolls], you’ll find something,’’ Lin said. “We put (Washington) through at least 100 pick-and-rolls.’’
Teams are adjusting to Lin but aren’t stopping the speedy playmaker who is the NBA’s first American born Chinese player. “They’ve tried everything,’’ D’Antoni said. “A good point guard will be able to read what they’re doing and take advantage of something else. We’ll help him with it.’’
Lin has turned Chandler into a monster at the rim, given new life to 3-pont specialist Steve Novak, allowed rookie Iman Shumpert back to backup shooting guard and made Jeffries viable on the pick-and-roll.
Lin also has the team is playing fearless basketball.
“I feel confident against anybody,’’ said Chandler, whose Mavericks dispatched the Lakers in a sweep in the second round last spring. “As long as we play as a team, we can beat anybody. It’s not about whose in the lineup. It’s about how the lineup plays together. Right now we’re playing great basketball.”
marc.berman@nypost.com