The history of NBA

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      Since Jeremy Lin brought "Linmania" to the basketball, I started paying attention to the National Basketball Association(NBA). It not only got me interested in watching the actual NBA games on TV, but also made me wonder when and why the NBA was founded.

      The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America.  It is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world.  It was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).

  Information credit of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association

      NBA players get the world's highest pay in comparison to all of the other professional sports such as soccer, football, baseball, cricket, figure skating, track and field or hockey.  While different players receive different salaries, this figure is the average annual salary per player. The NBA is all about "professionalizing"  for people from all over the world try out for the NBA Draft as they chase their dream. It is almost impossible to make it into the NBA unless you practice every day, and joined the basketball team since high school. Most of the players who are eligible for the NBA draft are amateur U.S. college basketball players.  However, a few high school graduates have been drafted over the years like Kobe Bryant.  Each year, more and more international players from leagues around the world have become eligible for the draft, and eventually were drafted.

       It was interesting to find out that in 1947 the NBA brought the first foreign players into the league.  It started with a Japanese-American Knicks player, Wataru Misaka.  The NBA opened its doors for African-American players in 1950.  Since then, an increasing number of international players started to move-in and play in the NBA.

  Information credit of :http://www.stumblerz.com/nba-fun-facts/

       Jeremy Lin is one of those who is talented enough to be in the NBA league, but there is a long story behind it. He didn't successfully make it on his first try, so he practiced and prepared even harder.  Finally, he got picked out out of the non-professional college basketball players.

       Thanks to him, we now have the courage to learn something new; we have more basketball knowledge and skills; and we have the motivation to try to get our dream even after we fail!

Struggle in the mainstream culture like Jeremy Lin

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    As a high school student, Jeremy Lin was not only an outstanding student,but also an outstanding basketball player and person! He did not just study and play hard,but he was driven to excel in every part of his life! He proved to the people "who always say no" wrong by not only getting exceptional grades,but also becoming an Asian role model in Christian living as well as sports. He broke all the stereotypes held by Asians and non-Asians by becoming the first major Asian-born international athletic who came from a normal educational program and not a "specialized sports academy." He proved on the professional and international level that Asians are not "sports challenged" or "intellectual nerds." He demonstrated that one can still achieve his or her American Dream.

      http://www.zimbio.com/Jeremy+Lin/articles/eg_QiqL7VoJ/Jeremy+Lin+demand+in+China

    As a student, I often wondered how can I find the right balance between my studies,and time with family and friends? How can I find time to participate in sports or other after-school activities without being too tired or even fail a class? How can I handle all the different demands on my time and energy,and still be a successful student and person? How did Jeremy Lin find balance in his life,and balance between his culture and personal interests?

   As I mentioned in my previous post, Jeremy Lin's mother was often criticized by her friends, because she allowed her son to spend hours and days playing basketball. This was so opposite Oriental thinking where one stresses one's education and studying above "playing" sports or "wasting" time. Many of her friends thought and even said that she should limit his playing basketball. But Jeremy's mom stuck to her opinion and allowed him to play the game he so thoroughly enjoyed. She demanded that he needed to excel in the classroom as well as nurtured his interests to excel on the basketball court. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Lin)

   But how did he do it? Here are some tips to be "self-discipline" like Jeremy Lin:
1.Have a dream- Jeremy Lin is unusual in that he had a dream and set numerous goals for himself to achieve. He wanted to be a good student so he studied hard, and kept up all of his grades so he could enjoy doing what he wanted,such as playing basketball. 
2.Set goals and prioritize issues - Jeremy was driven to set priorities of things that needed to be done,and then do them. He didn't waste time on un-important things. 
3.Self-disciplined- I've learned from him that "self-discipline" was the key to all of it. His culture,parents,pastors,and coaches,preached and demanded that he be disciplined--self-disciplined. It showed up in his getting enough sleep and rest to have enough energy to excel each day. You could see it in the classroom, on the basketball court and even in his relationships. 
4.Get support- he was able seek his dreams his parents,family,teachers,coaches and youth leaders supported his vision,dreams and goals. They supported him in good and bad times. 

Yes, miracles can truly happen if you follow all of Jeremy's footprints-have a dream,set goals, prioritize issues,be self-disciplined,and get support!!

From under spotlights to normal life as others

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                  In February 2012, the new word "Linsanity"  became a new trend
     within the Basketball field, everyone was shocked when they saw Jeremy Lin
     played hard and led Knicks to victory. But recently, Jeremy got switched and
     has a new contract with the "Rockets", he eventually became less popular
     than before.  James Harden took over his spotlights. According to Derrick
     Rose and the news, Jeremy felt more comfortable when there is no media
     pressure on him, he can focus on playing basketball without worrying what
     paparazzi say about him:

                 "Lin's been good, man," Rose said on Friday afternoon. "Playing
     good ball. Playing with a lot of confidence. All you need is confidence in
     this league and that's what he's definitely playing with. I like him as a
     player, like him as a person, where he's very humble."

  http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/7393/derrick-rose-respects-humble

                 Jeremy has not only feel more comfortable but his personality has
     influenced people's thoughts about him, his humbleness led him to success
     and honor God in Heaven.

                 Derrick Rose likes what he's seen from Jeremy Lin and he's
     looking forward to facing the New York Knicks' phenom in the next few
     weeks."I love the way that he plays," Rose said. "The fame or whatever, he's
     brushed it off. He's not paying too much attention to it. Turning things
     down. And that's the way that I think you're supposed to be."

   http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/7393/derrick-rose-respects-humble

                I believe the change in Jeremy's life has gave him more space of his
     own, no matter on focusing on playing basketball or good team strategies, it
     all has improved even though the media center has many kinds of rumor about
     him.

NEVER GIVE UP ON DREAMS

                            
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        A few years ago, Jeremy Lin graduated from one of the most prominent California high schools, but he received no athletic scholarships. While his grades were high enough to enter any of the top college around the nation, no one seemed to be interested in his basketball abilities let alone potential.  He sent his résumé to innumerable schools around the country including all of the Ivy League schools and his two dream schools(Stanford and UCLA).  But still no one seemed to be interested let alone offer a positive inquiry.

Jeremy was aware that the Ivy League schools did not offer any athletic scholarships, but he still wanted to play basketball--somewhere.  But even more critical, he realized that the colleges would only use a few minutes to decide whether or not to recruit him.  Jeremy understood that he was not a flashy or freakishly athletic player. He was convinced that for someone to understand him and his game, they would have to get to know him, and watch him for more than just five minutes.  In this way, they could see his devotion, determination, dedication, and discipline.

        Fortunately, Assistant Coach Holden stopped in to see a rail-thin 6’3” Asian kid practice and play in a game,   Jeremy was promptly accepted by Harvard as well as recruited to play basketball.  Four years later, he received a Bachelor's Degree with Honors in Economics, while playing basketball which he enjoyed. After graduation, he decided to follow his dream one more time, and tried out for the 2010 NBA Draft.   Sadly and beyond Jeremy’s expectations, no team in the NBA decided to take a chance and draft him. Jeremy was really broken and cried on his brother's apartment's sofa where he was temporary living at that time. After becoming a journeyman practice player on several teams, Jeremy was given a chance to play in 2012 with the Knicks after several teammates suffered severe season-ending injuries …quickly  Jeremy became a Knick phenomena.

       Even though Jeremy has faced many failures during his short life, his personality and his devotion to God has led him to try even harder and seek success. He has always looked up to God, and never gives up on his hope of playing professional basketball.  He has a passion for playing for God, not just for himself.  He also wants to share God's gospel through his devotion to excel; enhance his teammates; and serve his community.

       After recently being introduced to a new team, Jeremy stated: "…With all the media attention and all the love from the fans, I feel I need to prove myself.  Prove that I’m not a marketing tool or a ploy to improve attendance. Prove I can play in this league. But I’ve surrendered that to God…. I’m not in a battle with what everybody else thinks anymore." (Justin Williams) From this quote in Jeremy's own words, we can see again that Jeremy has never given up on what he is doing, and he even wants to make it better to honor God.

Let it shine but not showing off

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Historically, very few Asians have made it on the NBA scene let alone are recognized as a world-wide idol.   Yao-Ming was probably the first Chinese to break the bamboo curtain, and play for-the Houston Rockets.   He was a giant at 7’6” who played among giants. He was born into a very poor family, and raised by the Chinese government to be a national basketball hero, and hopefully achieve world-wide fame for China.
However, the story of Jeremy Lin is truly one of the most interesting sports sagas for he made it into the NBA in the past couple of years.  He was the first Asian American to break into a starting role.  Yao-Ming came into the NBA though the front door as a Chinese star, and after years of negotiations with the Chinese government. Jeremy, however, snuck in through the back door and no one knew of his abilities.  He was the first American of Taiwanese descent to play in the league.  He was born of Taiwanese parents, who immigrated from Taiwan to United States in the mid-1970s.   He started playing basketball with his father and his brothers when he was little, and this has became one of his biggest interests.  He kept playing basketball as a reprieve from studying hard during his high school years..
     It was about eight years ago in July of 2005 when Bill Holden, the Harvard assistant coach, noticed that Lin was 6 feet 3 inches tall; thin as a pencil; and carried a 4.2 grade point.   Jeremy not only had the physical attributes of a good shooting guard, but his grade point average made him very valuable for he fitted Harvard's high academic standards.  Holden was initially unimpressed with Lin's on-court abilities, so he told Lin's high school basketball coach, Peter Diepenbrock, that Lin was a "Division III player".  Later that week, however, Holden saw Lin playing in a much more competitive game.  He noticed Jeremy driving to the basket on every opportunity with the "instincts of a killer,"   It was then that Jeremy Lin caught Bill Holden’s eye and he became a top priority for him.
       Due to the heavy focus on a child’s education by Asian parents, Jeremy's mom was often criticized by her friends for letting Jeremy play so much basketball,  However, she only allowed him to play the game he enjoyed  if he kept all of his grades up and went to church.  Over the years, Jeremy learned to really focus; strove to do his best in everything; and asked Christ to guide his life’s ambitions, goals, and vocation.  He was known for that Taiwanese kid who “could really shoot the ball,” but also had such a deep faith in God that he wanted to become a preacher.
Through the teaching of his Dad, Mom, Bill Holden, etc., Jeremy Lin became an All Pacific Coast guard in high school,  a First Team Ivy League basketball player at Harvard, and an NBA rocket offensive standout.  In his second year, Jeremy was pushed into a starting role as a shooting guard for the New York Knicks.  He replaced an All-Pro franchisee  player who destroyed his ACL.  In his first game, he shot over 50% and scored 17 points.  Within a week, he was scoring in 20s.  In his third week, he was consistently scoring in the 30s.  In February of 2012, Jeremy scored a  career-high 38 points and had seven assists leading the Knicks in a 92–85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. He even outscored the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who had 34 points.  No one in the history of the NBA had ever had a faster raise to the top or a higher scoring average.  He not only becme the idol of the New York Knick fans, but “the” No. 1 Asian basketball player in the world.
I chose Jeremy Lin because I am a big fan of his.   First, his parents immigrated from Taiwan, which is where I came from.  I can sort of relate to him just because of his ancestry and likes and dislikes.  In some ways, he is someone just like me—a normal Taiwanese kid who has to do well in school, and follow his parents teaching.  Second, he is a fantastic basketball player who follows his interests, strives to excel and develop himself.  Third, he has a deep personal faith with God.  He is such a good example for all teenagers and a real idol to follow. He always gives thanks to God after every games.  He also loves to spread the gospel to people around him.  Fourth, he never changes his personality; and he is always  humble.  Fifth, Jeremy became a star much quicker than Yao-Ming, and made a bigger impact on his professional  team.
I hope people will learn something from this blog as the blog posts something new every time.  This blog will give the reader a  look at basketball through Asian eyes; show the different aspects of Jeremy Lin; and discover some interesting facts about his life and goals. I hope everyone enjoys my blog, and shares good ideas together!