‘Being Asian-American means I have to prove myself more’

His story is the true Cinderella story of the 2012 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Jeremy Lin is lapping up all the attention.

Despite the presence of stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade at the NBA All-Star Weekend here, everybody wants a piece of Lin.

A huge contingent of media persons from China and Taiwan or those covering for publications catering to the interests of Asian-Americans has descended on Orlando for the American-born Chinese/Taiwanese descent hoopster who has become household name in America in just two weeks' time, coming off from nowhere to help New York Knicks win nine out of 10 games at one time.

The huge Oriental component of the World media here has been chasing him and capturing every move he makes and was disappointed when Lin failed to turn up in the free zone on Friday before the Rising Stars match practice.

His unprecedented success has captured the imagination of NBA fans and every media interaction here has at least one question about him thrown in.

While the world is not having enough of his underdog-turned-superstar story, Lin ws unsure of his future couple of weeks back, ranked 467th out of the 500 players in NBA in ESPN's list. “I was thinking of playing overseas or D-League (NBA Development League) or give up basketball altogether,” Lin told a press conference on Friday. In a week, he jumped to 69 after his magical first week and has is currently ranked 75.

Lin agreed his ethnicity might have been the reason for him going unnoticed by NBA teams for so long. “I think it has something to do with it, I don't know how much,” he said. “But I think just being Asian-American, obviously when you look at me, I'm going to have to prove myself more so, again and again and again, and some people may not believe it.”

Lin, who is enjoying being part of the All-Star Weekend, finished with just two points in under-nine minutes of playing time as his Team Shaq lost 146-133 to Team Chuck in Rising Stars Challenge. He said he wants to use the break to get relax and get some pains go away. Then it will be time for more Linsanity.

(The writer’s trip has been sponsored by NBA)