Linsanity finally settles in Houston
Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets displays his jersey. (Getty) Credit: Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets displays his jersey. (Getty)
A whirlwind week for Jeremy Lin culminated with the former Knicks phenom being unveiled in Houston Rockets red on Thursday at a news conference in the Toyota Center.
Lin was introduced as a Rocket in front of a press contingent that Rockets owner Les Alexander said was 10 times the size of when the team introduced Scottie Pippen -- one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.
"I don't see myself as a conquering king," Lin told the oversized press corps, "but it has been an unbelievable ride."
It's a ride that he didn't foresee ending in Houston. Lin on Wednesday told Sports Illustrated that he had expected the Knicks to match the three-year, $25-million offer sheet the Rockets gave him. And he had expected to retake the reins as the Knicks starting point guard, like coach Mike Woodson told him he would.
Instead, Lin said he's exchanged text messages with former Rockets star Yao Ming, and started the process of reacclimating himself with the organization that cut him before last season.
Lin's second stint with the Rockets will be a much richer one -- Lin's $25-million contract is guaranteed.
It was a price Houston was willing to pay.
"It's always difficult when you make an error," Alexander said. "We made an error when we let him go. I think we rectified it now."
