Brooklyn Nets: Enough With The ‘Linsanity’

Jeremy Lin was on top of the basketball world this time six years ago as a member of the New York Knicks. Now, Lin is on the brink of becoming another irrelevant former star while wasting away on the Brooklyn Nets bench.

There is plenty of frustration and blame that gets thrown around when a team struggles and the 2016-17 Brooklyn Nets are a tormented group.

Saddled with the worst record (8-32) in the NBA and with no immediate future first-round draft picks, the Nets need more than a streaky, injury-prone point guard.

Jeremy Lin signing a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets last offseason would have made sense if the team had hopes of contending.

Lin would serve better as a combo guard off the bench, similar to his role with the Charlotte Hornets last season in which he helped the team clinch a playoff spot.

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Charlotte, already set with Kemba Walker as their starter and franchise point guard, wasn’t as appealing a return destination for a guard with memories of stardom in the starting lineup.

An opportunity to start is a precious moment in the NBA regardless of the team’s roster, so not many people could blame Lin for his decision. The Nets on the other hand, are to blame still seeking media attention in the New York market and support from a real Brooklyn fanbase.

The lure of a Lin’s fanbase here in the United States and China that exploded in popularity since his amazing tenure with the rival New York Knicks.

Lin with the Knicks under Mike D’Antoni‘s system was a force leading the team to a playoff berth while stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare’ Stoudemire suffered through injuries.

He averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists during a 12-game stretch before the All-Star break, forcing the league to add him to their Rising Stars Challenge game at the last minute.

Before injuring his knee, ending his season, Lin was arguably the most exciting and popular player in the league.

The only problem is Lin hasn’t made that big an impact on the league since 2012 and the “Linsanity” craze didn’t follow him from New York to the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.

Lin continued to put up numbers similar to his career average of 11.8 points per game along with 4.1 assists per contest, nothing spectacular and far from All-Star consideration.

It’s time to leave the “Linsanity” nickname for good and just focus on Lin, the average NBA point guard. Nets fans have to get used with a player (when healthy) that will handle the basketball and give you a few sparks here and there surrounded by young inexperienced talent and Brook Lopez.

The impact off the court will always be positive as Lin continues to be a role model in the league, influencing more players that are from countries such as China or made the leap from the NBA’s D-League undrafted.

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The moments so far for Lin in the Nets organization are not highlight worthy thus far but better days are ahead. It’s unfair to expect a turnaround of any measure to come from Lin’s injury return especially after missing 28 games.

The hope that Lin will be the Nets franchise point guard needs to disappear, because that would be just “Linsane.”