Jeremy Lin appreciates great assist from Mavericks
New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin, center, drives through Dallas Mavericks' Vince Carter, right, and Dominique Jones during the first half. (Feb. 19, 2012) Credit: AP
DALLAS -- Jeremy Lin didn't win a championship with the Mavericks like Tyson Chandler and never played a regular-season game for Dallas. But Lin may not be the Knicks' starting point guard if not for a short stint with the Mavericks organization.
Lin played for the their summer-league team in 2010. For the past two days, Lin has repeatedly thanked Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson and said he might not be in the NBA right now if not for that invite.
"Probably not because there was no summer league this past summer," Lin said before the Knicks faced the Mavericks last night. "So who knows? I couldn't even begin to guess. All I know is he gave me a chance and that definitely has something to do with me being able to be in the NBA this year."
That makes the Mavericks directly or indirectly responsible for two-fifths of the Knicks' starting lineup.
The Mavericks were offering Chandler only a one-year deal during free agency in December and he left for a four-year, $56-million contract with the Knicks.
In Lin's case, the Mavericks were the only team to offer him a summer-league invite. But they were deep in the backcourt with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones. Lin knew his chances of making the team were slim.
Lin said the Mavericks wanted Lin to play for their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. But he got the Warriors' attention with his play against top overall pick John Wall in the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League and Golden State signed him.
"I thought at that time Golden State might be a better fit for me," Lin said. "But I'm very thankful to the Mavs."
Lin said Nelson was talking to him throughout the draft process. He saw Lin play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament before the 2010 NBA draft and was intrigued by the former Harvard point guard.
"He said, 'I like your game. I think you're one year away from being able to play in the NBA. I'd like you to play for the Texas Legends, the D-League team,' " Lin said. "He said, 'We've had a history of developing young point guards like [Steve] Nash and Barea. I think you have similarities with them, but you need a lot of developing and improving.' "
You can't blame Lin for not walking away for a chance at an NBA contract with Golden State or the Mavericks for sticking with whom they had. They won the championship last year, and Nelson's assessment of Lin certainly sounded accurate.
Lin played only 29 games with the Warriors last year. He was cut by them and the Rockets in December and nearly waived by the Knicks before his 25-point, seven-assist game off the bench against the Nets on Feb. 4. Now he's been on the cover of Sports Illustrated -- twice -- and Time Magazine and has turned the Knicks' season around.
Lin has run into some obstacles lately in a magical NBA odyssey that has had many twists and turns. Teams and players are charged up to play the NBA's new sensation and cover boy.
The Heat and Celtics proved that. All-Star point guards Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo also proved that with terrific games against Lin. The Knicks believe these experiences will help Lin. "What he's done in these 12, 13, 14, 15 games has been nothing short of phenomenal," coach Mike D'Antoni said.
