Six-foot-three point guard Jeremy Lin is looking to continue his journey in basketball to improve himself as a player and as a person.
The 26-year-old player said he found what he is looking for in Charlotte Hornets after signing a two-year, $4.37 million contract with the team last week.
Prior to his signing the contract, Lin took to his Facebook account to thanks his supporters and the Charlotte Hornets management for letting him continue pursuing his dreams. "My journey has never looked the way I (or anyone else) thought it would, but God has always worked things out for my good and I am confident that he will continue to do so," he said. "I want to thank Coach [Steve] Clifford and the Hornets organization for this opportunity - for taking the time to talk to me, understanding my game, and most importantly, making it clear they believe in me. For those of you who have been patiently waiting for news, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for joining me on this journey. To the Lakers organization and the city of Los Angeles, thank you for your support this past season."
Lin, who said he has no regrets about leaving the New York Knicks after the 2012 season to sign with the Houston Rockets, added, "Going into my first true free agency as an NBA player this off-season, the one thing that mattered to me the most was finding a team that would be a good fit for me. I wanted to be on a team where I would be able to play freely and truly play the game I love with joy again. That has always been the most important thing to me. After a LOT of prayer and long discussions with family and friends, I wanted to personally let you guys know I'll be joining the Charlotte Hornets."
He continued, "I have no idea what is coming next, but I promise I will do everything in my power to contribute to this team and to improve as a player and as a person. Here's to the next chapter! #audienceofOne #BuzzCity"
During his introductory press conference on Monday, Lin said that during the discussion with the Hornets, Clifford and the management staff of the team had clear understanding of their plans for him and how to properly utilize his skills to contribute for the Hornets in the upcoming NBA season, the Associated Press reported.
Lin said the discussions were far and between compared with his previous teams. "Just having that open line of communication early and being proactive about it was very big for me," as he revealed Clifford promised to allow him the opportunity to showcase the same skills he had shown in the second half of the 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks, where he averaged 14.4 points per game with his big shots and solid performance.
However, the Knicks traded him with Houston for a three-year, $25 million deal but saw his contribution decline, with the Rockets trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lin added, "I want to get back to what makes me what I am as a player, which is being aggressive, being on the attack and always charging toward the rim. think that will help create easier shots for this team."
Clifford commented on Lin, "He's hungry to continue to improve. As you know that is not always the case in any pro league. So I'm confident he will continue to get better."
The Hornet's coach added that Lin would be a great addition to the team because of his ability to make those three-point shots. "He is a playmaker and has the ability to create offense for himself and his teammates," Clifford said.
