Kobe Bryant, meet Jeremy Lin.
New York Knicks, meet your potential savior.
Lin, an unknown name just days ago, outscored Bryant on Friday, February 10, as the Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 92-85, at Madison Square Garden. Lin torched the Lakers for a game-high 38 points, less than 24 hours after Bryant, who finished with 34 points, couldn't tell you who he is.
"I don't even know what he's done," Bryant admitted when asked about "Lin-sanity" before the game. "Like, I have no idea what you guys are talking about."
I can't blame Kobe for being honest. I mean, did you know who Lin was prior to this week? Better yet, did Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni know what he had in Lin? An undrafted free agent out of Harvard, Lin was chained to the end of the Knicks' bench a week ago as the team and its coach looked lost. But D'Antoni's hand was forced by an injury to Carmelo Anthony and a star was born.
On Monday, in his first career start, Lin dropped 28 points and eight assists on the Utah Jazz. Then, he scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. But he took it up a few notches by beating Bryant on basketball's biggest stage, one normally owned by the Lakers' star. The Garden crowd was alive on Friday night and suddenly so was the Knicks' season. New York has won four games in a row for the first time this season, three with Lin in the starting lineup. And they're doing it without stars Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, who is grieving the death of his older brother.
"He answered a lot of questions tonight," D'Antoni said. "Can he make an outside shot? Can he pull the trigger in a big moment? He hit two 3s that just broke the game open."
He also answered a question for Bryant: Who is Jeremy Lin?
Adam Martini is a freelance sportswriter who grew up in New York rooting for the Knicks. He fondly remembers the days when coming down the lane on the Knicks was hazardous to one's health. Although he has never witnessed his favorite NBA team win a championship, he remains a loyal fan.
Sources
LA Lakers at New York Box Score. Yahoo! Sports.
Brian Mahoney, "Lin scores 38 to lead Knicks over Lakers 92-85," Yahoo! Sports.
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