Everyone knows who Jeremy Lin is now. Even people who don’t watch basketball. His recent surge has me believing that we can finally start seeing some more Asian Americans in the sport. As of today, he’s the only Asian American (and only Asian for that matter) of any consequence in the league.
Lin has proven that Asians can play in the NBA, and more specifically, Asian Americans. Yeah we had Yao Ming, he was great. But he was also a freak of nature, standing at 7’ 6.” Knowing the Chinese, they probably used some genetic manipulation to make him that big.
Jeremy Lin is a 6’3” point guard. That’s decently tall, but it’s below-average for an NBA player. Lin is not only competing with the fastest and most athletic players in the game, but he’s been destroying. This guy has lead a decimated Knicks team to four straight consecutive wins. The Knicks are playing better with Lin and a bunch of scrubs than they were playing with All-stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
For those Asian players that aspire to become a professional basketball player, Lin has paved the way. Here’s some lessons that you can take from Lin if you want to be the next best Asian American in the NBA.
Work with what you have
Lin doesn’t have the freakish athletic ability of Russell Westbrook or Dwyane Wade. But he does have one asset that gives him a clear advantage. Intelligence. I’m not just saying this because it’s an Asian stereotype. Every basketball analyst has praised his basketball IQ. In a game, like basketball, athletic ability is important, but there is strategy and thinking involved as well. When you can think better, quicker, and faster than your opponent, you have a deadly weapon that you have to exploit. Why do you think the Dallas Mavericks won the championship in 2011 over the hyper-athletic Miami Heat?
Most Asians aren’t built like Lebron James. We have to accept that. However, there is a disproportionate number of Asians in the top-tier colleges. We are a very smart portion of the population in America. Let’s use it to our advantage.
Remove your limiting beliefs
There is a first for everything. Stop thinking that you can’t do something. Anything is possible, and I mean anything. Jeremy Lin went from being a nobody to being a superstar in a single week. Every day miracles are happening. You just need to open your mind about them.
Follow your dreams
Listen, times have changed. Your parents told you before that you could never make it in the NBA. We know that. That’s why now there’s only one good Asian basketball player in the world.
But you’ve got to think for yourself. Yes Asians have strict parents. Yes we have very traditional upbringings. But this is your life, not theirs. If you want to play professional sports then do whatever it takes to fulfill your dreams.
Work harder than everybody else
One of the main reasons why there are people don’t achieve their dreams is simply because they are lazy. Not only will laziness prevent you from achieving success, but it is a cancer to your life.
You can’t just have the dream and not match it with the work ethic. You can’t expect to just think you can make it in the NBA without having a work ethic that matches Jeremy Lin. If you want to be playing in the NBA you have to be in the gym 6 hours a day practicing (then studying the rest of course – be a good Asian boy!)
Be prepared to fail, and pick yourself up again
Jeremy went through three teams before he finally found a team that allowed him to shine. He was extremely close to being cut from the NBA for good.
But instead of hanging his head low, he goes out and averages over 25 points per game.
Failures happen to every single person. It’s up to you whether you decide to call it quits or persevere onto the next day.
Conclusion
This list isn’t just for those who want to be NBA players. This is a list for anyone who has lofty dreams and expectations. Unfortunately for us Asians, we’ve been so babied and coddled by our parents that it’s become almost impossible to break this “glass ceiling.”
And wouldn’t it be sweet to see a few more (really good) Asians in the NBA?
Written by Editorial Staff