Jeremy Lin practices with the Houston Rockets for the first time – NBA News
Jeremy Lin, the newly recruited point guard of the Houston Rockets, had his first practice session with the team on Tuesday at the Toyota Center, with a big media delegation on hand to cover it, giving evidence that Linsanity was
still very much alive.
Lin was signed by the Houston Rockets in the summer for a $25.1 million three year contract, and spent the night on his teammate Chandler Parsons couch as he looked to settle into his new home.
"I don't know if I'm the face of the franchise just yet. I think we're a young team and we're all going to buy in. The thing about us is it's not going to be any one person that's going to carry us to where we want to go, it's
going to be everybody. I think it's so early on, I'm just trying to get to know the guys,” said Lin at the practice.
Lin was let go by the Rockets at the start of last season as they had two point guards in Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic in the roster. He was picked up by the New York Knicks two days after Christmas, but put on the deep end of the
Knicks bench, and played for the Knicks D-league affiliate team as well.
However, Lin was given the opportunity to start a game for the Knicks on February 4th after Baron Davis postponed his return to the Knicks roster with a back injury.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Lin became the first player in NBA history to average 20 points and 7 assists in his first five games. He led the Knicks to a winning spree, putting them back in playoff contention. His season came to an abrupt end after he tore
a meniscus in his left knee, and was sidelined for the rest of the season.
Knicks Head Coach Mike Woodson said on numerous occasions during the summer that the team would retain free agent Lin, and he would be the starting point guard for the Knicks this coming season. However, Houston gave Lin a three
year $25.1 million contract, which the Knicks decided against matching as they would have had to face luxury tax.
“Last year, I actually had a real season under my belt, where I got to play and see what works and doesn't work. Definitely, you want to lead by example, more so this year than last year, or the year before, coming in as a non-guaranteed
guy,” added Lin.
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