Despite his immense popularity on the internet, Jeremy Lin appears to be not popular enough in the US that is why some security personnel does not recognize him at all. Worst, some even think he does not look like an NBA player at all.
On September 12, the newly-acquired Charlotte Hornets point guard went to Time Warner Cable Arena for the first time apparently to do some shoot around and get a feel of the Hornets’ home floor. But he ran into a security problem.
Apparently, the female security at the arena was not privy nor was she briefed on the team’s acquisition of Jeremy Lin from the free agency in July that she stopped him at the gate, reports ESPN.
When Jeremy tried to explain to her that he was an NBA player, the female security asked him what team he belongs.
Lin posted the incident on his Twitter account but instead of getting mad or annoyed, he felt that it was too funny and worth sharing to his followers on his social media page.
Backup point guard
Following last season where the team almost made it to the playoff for the first time in years, the Charlotte Hornets made a few moves in summer to upgrade their roster.
One of its major transactions was the signing of Jeremy Lin from the free agency for a two-year contract. The 26-year-old Harvard graduate is expected to play as backup point guard to the Hornets’ starting point guard Kemba Walker.
But there are also reports that Hornets coach Steve Clifford may play the two point guards simultaneously to give his team multiple options for pick-and-roll offensive plays.
CBS Sports notes that Jeremy Lin may not be a big name free agent like he was three years ago immediately following his Linsanity days with the New York Knicks but he is definitely a solid pickup for the Hornets because he is filling the hole created when Mo Williams decided to join LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lin recounts that the incident at the Hornets’ Time Warner Cable Arena with the security is not the first time that happened to him. Back in 2013, he also had the same incident when he went into another arena, although he no longer mentioned what arena it was.
It is just unbelievable that the NBA’s first American player of Taiwanese descent is still unrecognizable by some people despite playing five seasons in the NBA or having that famous but otherwise short-lived Linsanity run while playing for the Knicks in 2012.
Two-point guards strategy
Following trades and acquisitions during the off-season, the Charlotte Hornets now has seven new players on its roster and head coach Steve Clifford is intent on trying out different combinations on the court when the NBA 2015-16 regular season begins late next month.
The combination may actually include having starting point guard Kemba Walker playing alongside another point guard Jeremy Lin on the court. And if that is to be the case, Lin will surely slide to the off-guard position, giving the Hornets more offensive option on the floor.
In a recent interview, Stephen Clifford said that his vision of playing the two point guards together is consistent with the mantra of having two pick-and-roll players on the floor.
He explained that doing so would put pressure on the defense at one side and they can just switch it to the other. That makes more room to play similar to how the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors does.