If you have a Jeremy Lin pun, the Knicks new point-guard sensation wouldn’t mind hearing it.
While admitting he was overwhelmed by the “Linsane” attention, Lin praised media and fans for the puns swirling through the city. The Knicks upped their “Linning streak’’ to four with the undrafted Harvard point guard in command in last night’s 92-85 win over the Lakers.
“I didn’t know you can turn Lin into so many things,’’ Lin said yesterday. “Me and my family were laughing [Thursday] night. We underestimated how creative everybody can be.’’
Lin, whose $788,000 minimum contract officially became guaranteed yesterday, has become an international phenomenon since Mike D’Antoni began playing him big minutes in their victory over the Nets last Saturday. Their past three “Lins’’ have come minus superstars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. It’s been “Linsane.’’
“I went to a fashion show [Thursday] night,’’ Tyson Chandler said. “I’m not getting questions about Melo and Amar’e. It’s: What is it with this Lin kid?”
Lin is handling his sudden fame with grace.
“Things are changing so much,’’ Lin said. “Everyone wants to talk to me and my family. We’re very low-key people and private people, so sometimes it’s a little tough.’’
Lin has become a bigger story than Kobe Bryant, who scored 34 points.
“I don’t think I’m overshadowing him,’’ Lin said before the game. “He’s Kobe. A lot of people are out here to see him play. Our job is to spoil that.’’
When asked if the attention is overwhelming, Lin said, “Yeah, but when I get on the court and play with our team, none of us are thinking about all the other stuff going on. It’s just basketball to us.
A large contingent of Chinese media attended the morning shootaround and last night’s game. One Chinese TV reporter asked Lin if he could take questions in Chinese. Lin was willing, but said, “Only if I can answer in English.’’