NBA

Serby’s Q&A with … Jeremy Lin

The Post’s Steve Serby sat down with Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin to talk about his life as an instant New York superstar, his faith and more.

Q: Describe what it’s like being Jeremy Lin today.

A: It’s a lot going on right now and just trying to catch my breath every day, just something different every day, just taking it one day at a time and . . . living a dream, but also realizing with this comes a lot of responsibility.

Q: And a loss of privacy?

A: And a loss of privacy.

Q: How do you feel about that?

A: It’s obviously a little tough, just because I’m kind of more low key and private. But it’s a good opportunity, it’s a good platform.

Q: You want to use that platform for what?

A: For God, for God’s glory, and I think that’s shown in a lot of different ways. It simply could be the way I live my life, what I talk about in my interviews, what I talk about through social media. It could be what I do in my spare time, what I do through my foundation . . . just a lot of different areas . . . how I spend my offseason.

Q: Knicks fans are afraid to pinch themselves right now — do you not want to pinch yourself right now?

A: Yeah, let’s keep this going (smiles).

Q: Your 17 jersey is the No. 1 seller in the NBA, is that hard to believe?

A: I mean, I think it’ll be like that for a little bit . . . and then things will resume to the way they were before (chuckles).

Q: Why do you say that?

A: Because right now, this is the thing that’s going on, and the Knicks are just a team that everyone’s watching, and so you’ll see a spike in jersey sales like when (Tim) Tebow first started, his jerseys went up, and then as the season went on, it kind of leveled out.

Q: How does that make you feel though?

A: I think it’s awesome, I’m thankful for that, for sure. I love the fans, no question.

Q: What do you love about Knicks fans?

A: I love when they bring positive energy, like they have been, the last two weeks. Because when they’re rooting for you, and they’re rooting for you hard, man, there’s no better place to play and there’s no better atmosphere to play in.

Q: Do you think you have a home-court advantage?

A: Of course. Definitely. You can see we play well at home.

Q: Define swagger, because you have it now, and I don’t think you always had that swagger.

A: I would say I show more emotion now. And I let it all hang, like I did in high school. I got away from it a little bit in college, and I got away from it a lot, altogether last year, because it got to the point where I was just trying to play to prove to everyone I belong here, I’m not a marketing tool, this and that, this and that. . . . I can be in the rotation whatever whatever, and I lost my joy, and now it’s coming back and people see that in me. Sometimes I’m on the court and I just can’t help but smile, and I never did that before the last couple of years.

Q: That’s a terrible thing when you lose your joy, isn’t it?

A: Absolutely. I think now that I remind myself I’m playing for God. It frees me of all the other pressures that I was dealing with.

Q: Would the best compliment for you be for someone to say, “He makes his teammates better”?

A: I think that would be the second-best compliment. The best would be, “When I see Jeremy play, I see him play for God and I see him bring joy on the court.”

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?

A: I love playing live video games . . . and I eat way more than anybody else.

Q: You’re the biggest eater on the team?

A: Probably. I don’t know how much everyone else eats, but I’ve been historically one of the biggest eaters on any of my teams.

Q: How many marriage proposals have you gotten in the last two weeks?

A: (Smiles) I don’t know. It just depends — you mean including Twitter and signs and stuff? — I don’t know (chuckles).

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?

A: No.

Q: Describe your ideal mate.

A: First she would really love God and be a faithful Christian, and then after that, I think, a desire to serve other people, to help with the underprivileged, do a lot of social work . . . great personality and easy to be around. Someone that’s definitely chill, low key, low maintenance.

Q: Are you more like your mother or father?

A: My mom. We’re both stubborn and headstrong and we both have more of a vocal personality.

Q: Scouting report on Jeremy Lin. How do you see yourself as a player?

A: I think the scouting report is definitely don’t let me get to the basket, challenge my shots and . . . let me go left before you let me go right . . . try to be active and cause turnovers. I think that’s the scouting report I’d give against myself.

Q: What do you think makes you unique as a point guard?

A: I think play-making, being creative and . . . making different types of plays, and having a variety, I guess.

Q: Do you get more pleasure distributing the ball than shooting it?

A: I really like when a team

. . . everyone’s hitting from all cylinders and there’s just nothing you can do to stop it. Because when you stop one, something else gives. That’s my favorite.

Q: Kind of like your high school [Palo Alto (Calif.) High] team?

A: Exactly. I mean, we probably had all five starters in double figures.

Q: What do you hope Knicks fans are saying about you right now?

A: I hope Knick fans are saying that it’s not about me (chuckles). I hope they’re understanding that it’s a lot about the team right now — the team vibe and the team chemistry has a lot more to do than just one person can bring.

Q: I’ve got bad news for you, they think it’s about you right now.

A: Well they’ll see soon enough. I was trying to say the same thing at Harvard. And now they’re seeing how well Harvard’s doing even though I’m not there. It’s not always about one player, so we’ll see.

Q: When you were sent down to the Developmental League, what was the low point emotionally for you?

A: Any time I went to the D-League it was a low point for sure. I HATED the D-League because in the D-League, you get judged based on your numbers. In the NBA, you get judged based on — by your numbers as well, but more to do with team success. In the D-League no one cares anything about your team. I HATE playing on a team where all people care about is their numbers. It’s just not how basketball is supposed to be played. It’s not an individual showcase.

Q: Did you ever think about giving up your dream?

A: I mean at times I would say, “If this doesn’t work out, if this year doesn’t work out, if this continues, I may have to draw the line somewhere.”

Q: How do you feel about being an inspiration to so many people?

A: I think it’s awesome because I’ve been inspired, too. And I think it’s important for any kid to have an inspiration. I think right now the way society’s going, I think role models are important, and kids need direction. If I didn’t have that direction growing up, who knows what I could be doing, because I’ve been lost many times in my life, and I’ve had to have someone guide me back on the right path. So any time I can do that and help other kids, I think that’s awesome.

LIN Q & A: PART ONE

Q: What was the worst instance when you were lost?

A: I would probably just say when I was really, really arrogant, and … I just didn’t listen to anybody, just my typical teenage years where it’s just rebelling. I think I know everything. I don’t need to hear anything from anybody, and I’m just going to do it my own way.

Q: You’ve decided on living in Manhattan. Why?

A: My older brother’s there and my sister-in-law is there.

Q: First time you played at the Garden?

A: I was with Golden State, and I played about a minute-and-a-half to two minutes, and had a turnover, a steal and an assist.

Q: What do you remember about stepping on the court for the first time?

A: I remember walking in and I was like, “This isn’t as big as I thought it would be” (laughs).

Q: So you were not awed … but you don’t seem to be awed by anything.

A: Well when the game starts, it’s all basketball.

Q: When you’re on the court now, has that really become a sanctuary for you?

A: Yeah definitely. It’s like our team is like our family. And we go to battle on the court and we fight for each other and we trust in each other and we rely on each other and that’s what it is on the court. When we’re out there together, we don’t care about our phones, we don’t care about the media, no one can reach us. It’s just us, being us, playing for us. It is, in some ways, a sanctuary.

Q: Favorite New York City things?

A: The energy of the city, and playing in the Garden.

Q: Spike Lee?

A: He’s very encouraging, and I’m very thankful for that, and obviously he’s a big part of New York basketball.

Q: Athletes you admire?

A: (Tim) Tebow. Yao Ming — he’s an unbelievable guy … on and off the court. I think what athletes do off the court is more impressive to me than what they do on the court.

Q: Who are the point guards you have liked watching over the years?

A: Chris Paul, Steve Nash.

Q: Because?

A: Because you can’t measure their impact. You look at a team with them on the court, and then the team without them on the court.

Q: What drives you?

A: I would say knowing that what I’m doing is glorifying God, in that He’s created me and blessed me with the talent to be able to play basketball, and then I make sure I do it the right way.

Q: Do you want to be a pastor?

A: Somewhere down the road.

Q: Why?

A: I just think like when I’m done, I want to wake up every day knowing that I’m doing something that will have an eternal impact and eternal consequence.

Q: One thing you would change about yourself if you could?

A: Pride, I would say. Just dealing with pride, and the constant battle with that.

Q: What do you mean?

A: I think everyone, to some degree, we all struggle with our own pride. Learning to love people when we don’t want to love them, and to forgive people when we don’t want to forgive them, and to serve people who sometimes we feel like we’re above or we’re better or we’re smarter than, or whatever it may be.

Q: Superstitions?

A: Pregame nap, and reading my Bible before the game.

Q: You read the Bible before every game?

A: Yeah. I have to. It gets me centered, gives me peace when I pray and read the Bible. As athletes, it’s stressful sometimes. … I hate having a bad game, so sometimes I need to remind myself just to let everything go and just to be myself, have fun and just give my best effort.

Q: Biggest obstacle you faced growing up?

A: I want to just say when I broke my ankle my junior year (at Palo Alto High School). It was the night before the championship game. That changed my whole life because before that, up to that point, I was a really bad practice player, I had a lot of attitude, I’d be kicked out of practice. I just wouldn’t listen to any of the coaches. I felt like I was just the best player. And once I broke my ankle it changed my whole perspective. On everything. I just told myself, “I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to play because at any minute you can lose your career, and while I play, as many days as God gives me, I’m going to make sure I go 100 percent.”

Q: What’s the worst thing you did in practice that got you kicked out of practice?

A: Just attitude, I would say. Just not playing hard, walking around, giving up, stuff like that.

Q: Biggest influence growing up?

A: My older brother, just kind of giving me advice on what it means to be mature, what it means to be responsible. (He) just led the way and gave me a lot of different advice, and also basketball. (He) pushed me — he was always better than me growing up, and he helped me become better. I was always chasing him and riding his coattails.

Q: Best piece of advice your parents gave you?

A: They always tell me, “Whatever you do, give your best effort, and give it unto the Lord, and trusting him with the results.”

Q: Most difficult course at Harvard?

A: Expository writing.

Q: Favorite course?

A: I’d say some sociology courses.

Q: How did you do in that expository writing class, by the way?

A: A solid C minus (smiles).

Q: What’s so solid about a C minus?

A: (Laughs) It was solid for me.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Michael Jordan.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Michael Jordan; Martin Luther King; Tim Tebow.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Oceans 11”; “Entrapment”; “The Italian Job” — a lot of stealing stuff (smiles); “Shooter”; “The Shawshank Redemption”.

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Probably Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Mila Kunis.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Hillsong.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Maine lobster … fresh.

Q: Have you found a spot in New York?

A: No, whenever I go to Maine, I just make sure I go over there and get some Maine lobster.

Q: How often do you go to Maine?

A: Whenever they send me to D-League (smiles)?

Q: So there is a benefit going to the D-League then?

A: Relative cost benefit … I would say I’d rather stay here.

Q: Your message to the Asian community?

A: Just thank you, and hopefully we can continue to break stereotypes. It’s just a lot more thank you and gratitude than anything else, because they’ve been absolutely unbelievable in terms of their support. Unbelievable.

Q: Did those stereotypes bother you when you were younger?

A: Yeah, of course.

Q: They would call you “Wonton soup” at games … what was the worst thing you heard that really got to you?

A: I’ve been called a “chink” by another player on an opposing (college) team.

Q: Did you say anything to him?

A: I was like really confused, and then he said it again, and then I was just like, “You need to chill,” and I told the ref, I’m like, “He really needs to stop saying that to me.”

Q: What if he hadn’t stopped?

A: I probably would have done something stupid (chuckles).

Q: Your message to Knicks fans?

A: Thank you, let’s keep this thing going, and who knows? The sky’s the limit.

Q: Do you think this team can do some damage?

A: Of course. I think on paper, it’s as talented, or almost as talented, as any team there is. You add chemistry, you add defense, you add momentum, confidence, a system that works. If you’re clicking at the right time like the Giants were, who knows?