The Los Angeles Clippers experienced a difficult 2015-15 NBA season. Apart from the injuries of the basketball stars, the team also faced off-court issues involving franchise face Blake Griffin. While the Los Angeles Clippers were able to claw their way back up, their efforts fell short in the NBA playoffs 2016. With the offseason, however, reports are surfacing that the NBA team plans to add a polarizing figure in their roster in an effort to put them once more on top of the Western Conference.
The Jeremy Lin free agency train has been through a number of NBA teams in the past years. While the Linsanity found fans anywhere he went, the Asian basketball star has yet to find a team he can call his home. Will the Los Angeles Clippers be the answer to this longing for home of Jeremy Lin?
"I've played six years in the NBA; I've played on five different teams,” shared Jeremy Lin of his life in the NBA. He added, “I've played for two D-League teams -- so seven cities in six years. I'm tired of boxes, I'm tired of moving companies, and I want to find a home.”
Jeremy Lin entered the NBA in 2010 where he went undrafted until the Golden State Warriors signed him. He stayed with the Stephen Curry team for a year before moving on to the Ne York Knicks to play alongside Carmelo Anthony. The move to the Kristaps Porzingis team proved to be the catalyst for the Harvard alum to break out of his shell and impress the league. During his stint in the New York Knicks, he gained the nickname Linsanity courtesy of Metta World Peace of the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 2012, Jeremy Lin was sent to the Houston Rockets to serve as the face of the franchise. However, the NBA team eventually signed James Harden who later on outshone Linsanity. After two years, the Houston Rockets traded Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers in a failed bid to sign then free agent Chris Bosh. Under the then Kobe Bryant team, Linsanity further floundered as Byronn Scott opted to bench him despite his good health.
Last 2015-16 NBA season, the Linsanity once again showed itself in the hardwood court specifically in the Charlotte Hornets' performance against the San Antonio Spurs. Dominating the paint despite the presence of Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green, Jeremy Lin proved to be worthy once again of a starting role. Later on, he also became instrumental in the team's matches against the Miami Heat.
However, the Charlotte Hornets decided to bench him amid his impressive stats and runs. While Jeremy Lin praised the community, he later on opted out of his contract and decided to keep his doors open in free agency.
"I want to see how good I can become," Lin explained of his free agency decision. He added, "I'm 27, and an athlete's prime, or at least in the NBA, your prime is usually 27-30. That's when you kind of peak physically (and) mentally and that's where most players perform their best. So I'm going into my prime and I want to see how great I can be as a player, and that's my purpose in free agency -- so I'll just exhaust every opportunity to see which one will be the best for me."
The Los Angeles Clippers is considered as one of the most solid teams in the NBA. Amid the difficulties of the group, the Doc Rivers squad remains intact. Will this team be the family Jeremy Lin has been searching for in the NBA? Can the Linsanity emerge and make a steady impact alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan?
