Jeremy Lin has had one of the most interesting careers in the NBA. From virtual unknown, to Knicks star, and now one of the few bright spots on the Nets roster. Coming from Harvard, no one could quite expect the level of stardom that Lin achieved in the NBA.
As one of the best Asian-American basketball players in history, racist comments are unfortunately sure to be encountered. According to Jeremy Lin on a recent podcast he was on, “Outside Shot w/ Randy Foye” he heard more racists remarks at the college level than in the NBA, though.
“It’s all students and they’re all drunk.”
“The worst was at Cornell, when I was being called a ‘chink.’ That’s when it happened.”
“I ended up playing terrible and getting a couple of charges and doing real out-of-character stuff … I didn’t say anything because when that stuff happens, I kind of just, I go and bottle up where I go into turtle mode and don’t say anything and just internalize everything.”
This makes sense for the type of environment college arenas can have. Youth and lowered inhibitions are not the greatest groundwork for a welcoming situation.
