Jeremy Lin, New Golden State Warriors Point Guard

by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 2:34 AM EDT in 2010 Vegas Summer League Comment 26 comments

Jeremy Lin will be taking DeMarcus-Nelson-awe-inspiring talents to the Bay according to an ESPN report.

[Note by Scott Schroeder, 07/22/10 2:43 AM CDT ] Edited for clarity. Sorry to offend anyone.

Jeremy Lin, now forever to be known as a Summer League standout (and hopefully not in the Marco Belinelli mold), will be taking his talents to the Golden State Warriors according to a report from ESPN's Marc Stein.

Lin averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in just over 18 minutes per game while shooting 52% from the field while playing point guard for the Dallas Mavericks in last week's Vegas Summer League.

While those numbers probably aren't going to jump out at you, they apparently jumped out at the new Golden State ownership as Stein reports that the Warriors will guarantee more than half of Lin's first-year salary - quite a coup for the undrafted 6-foot-3 guard out of Harvard.

Lin is a lifelong Warriors fan and his signing, sources said, was fully endorsed by Golden State's incoming new ownership tandem of Boston Celtics minority partner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber, whose purchase of the Warriors from longtime owner Chris Cohan won't be finalized for 60 to 90 days.

Jon L also ended up being pretty high on Lin:

Lin was fantastic in this game; by the end, the crowd who had come to watch John Wall was cheering for him just as much, if not more. He didn't shoot the best to start out, but he finished with 13 points on 12 shots, so okay overall, along with four rebounds. He also played fantastic defense. He did get called for six fouls, but he played tight, smothering D on both John Wall and Cartier Martin. He also showed off his quick first step and creative finishes at the rim on multiple occasions. Lin has really made a good case for himself this week.

I went back and watched everyone of Lin's offensive possessions - right around 85 by my count - and he's a pretty solid player (might be better on defense with his size and instincts, honestly), but not one that I wouldn't make earn his job in training camp by all but guaranteeing he'll be on an NBA roster at least until all contracts become fully-guaranteed on January 5, 2011.

Regardless, if the public relations boom goes as expected (and it seems like the Golden State fans are in high spirits already), this might pay off in a Sun-Yue-with-the-Lakers sort of way. Lin could end up being a good player who was in the right place at the right time with the right opportunity.

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Read More: Jeremy Lin (G - Harvard), Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers

Comments

Whatever. Okay. We're even, then.

Scott, you forget that Jeremy was bypassed when he came out of high school the leader and point guard of the state champion Palo Alto Vikings. He got a grand total of zero scholarships. Gee, I wonder why. What goes around comes around.

And yet, the Warriors weren’t the only team interested after his Summer League experience. The Mavs, Lakers, and an Eastern Conference team. So…whatever, dude.

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by Poor Man's Commish on Jul 21, 2025 3:40 AM EDT reply actions

What exactly are you arguing?

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Oversensitive.

Don’t worry about it, Scott. This guy has been coveting Lin like a little school girl since minute one of day one of the hype started. You hurt his feelings even discussing the matter, and rather than legitimately discuss this with you, he decided to throw a little nonsensical fit about it.

It is a PR stunt, and anyone with out rosy glasses can see it from a mile away. He was not signed to be a star, he was simply signed to sell jerseys, which he will (by the millions.) And you weren’t even disrespectful about it. You simply did what good writers do, present the facts and put forward a theory.

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by slapchop on Jul 21, 2025 4:11 AM EDT up reply actions

This was a rather wishy washy post.

It’s almost as if you’re giving him a backhanded compliment. On one hand you’re praising his basketball prowess, but on the other you’re dismissing it as racial favoritism. (have we already forgotten people already dismissed him as not being athletic enough?)

I think it remains to be seen how good (or bad) of a signing Jeremy Lin will be. Time will tell. But with all that has transpired in Summer League and his play at Harvard, I think he’s certainly shown that he can play with the big boys, if not with a little excitement and flair.

In the NBA, it’s pretty hard to get preferential treatment, and people aren’t going to get handed a silver spoon. Just ask the Adam Morrison’s and Darko Milicic’s of the league.

by scoutnodoubt on Jul 21, 2025 4:00 AM EDT reply actions

To sum it all up

I definitely think he should have been invited to an NBA training camp next season, but think that the backstory helped him get more money than he initially deserved.

I’ve never referred to his not being athletic enough (and would disagree with those who did), nor do I think his race should play any factor - at all - as he makes his way toward the NBA.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: getting "more money than he initially deserved"

I have to disagree here. He is easily worth the money—both from a business perspective and a basketball perspective.

For the GSW front office, this is a steal. Jeremy Lin’s $500K first year salary / 2nd year team option is a much cheaper contract they would have had to give to CJ Watson to back up Curry. Plus he has much greater upside for the W’s, provided he develops his skills further and adapts to the size, speed, and quickness of the NBA game. This was very much a low risk, high potential deal for the W’s. And considering the W’s bad history of attracting free agents, signing Lin wasn’t too bad of a snag, considering the interest Lin had from other teams.

Lin’s value however is much more than that. Much like Prokhorov’s acquisition of the Nets instantly broadens the horizons of that franchise, Lin’s signing taps into the inherent Bay Area fan base where he grew up and instantly broadens the Warrior’s international appeal into Asia and beyond. The NBA has been looking to expand its fan base into Asia for many years—holding exhibition games, licensing TV deals, marketing the latest Lebron or Kobe shoe to the youngsters there. This only helps with the cause.

If Lin’s signing turned out to be the worst signing in the last half century (and I’m sure it won’t be), it wouldnt even matter. The Warriors easily recoup the cost via ticket and jersey sales, and simultaneously broadening its appeal and energizing its fan base. Low risk, high rewards for the Warriors.

by scoutnodoubt on Jul 21, 2025 5:28 AM EDT up reply actions

You're agreeing with me here

I never said Lin isn’t worth the money, from either a basketball or business perspective, just questioned if he was able to get more guaranteed money based on his race.

Your points are good, aside from maybe the upside compared to CJ Watson (I’m not ready to say that). Lin could very well be worth it.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I think that increasing his pay because of his race is fine.

Look at it this way. Tony Gaffney gets signed by the Celts. He can play, but don’t you think the fact that he came out of BC and grew up in the area played a factor? Did Brandon Roy playing at Washington factor into Portland’s desire to trade for him? Hypothetically would Nash have more market value in Toronto than Sacramento. Did LBJ have a leg up as a hometown boy in Cleveland? The answer is yes. Hometown and regional interest have always played a part in the rosters of NBA teams. It’s good business and good community relations. This players hometown and community just happens to have a racial element. So what? It only makes a difference if someone was denied an opportunity, not that he has more marketability.

by thesaleem on Jul 21, 2025 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

See

If people are going to claim racism the other way, I don’t like people saying that it’s okay if it all of a sudden becomes a benefit.
I don’t think it’s just because he’s from the Bay (Omar Samhan went overseas without any of this hoopla), but your points are at least founded.
As far as as other players being denied an opportunity, I think that could possibly the case. Even if they’re not fully being denied an opportunity, they’re not getting as much guaranteed money.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I only watched two of his games

but my gut feeling with nothing-to-little evidence to go by was that Lin probably is an NBA player. As a fan of an NBA team that was in the market for a backup PG, I wouldn’t have had a problem with us giving him a look…now, guaranteeing money after a handful of summer league games is a little eyebrow-raising for any player, but not totally unheard of. Definitely would have had him at training camp though.

Overall though, I think its a good deal for GSW. They picked up a solid defender for cheap who could end up a fan favorite. There are worse ways to fill out a roster - they could have signed Travis Diener.

by richardhkirkando on Jul 21, 2025 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Scott...

This article is:

1) 100% sensible and states the obvious.
2) 100% silly and shows you’re oblivious.

Did Lin’s race make him a hotter commodity to Golden State and LA? Of course. But considering how much his race unfairly handicapped his NBA stock overall, it barely makes up for anything.

Let me put it this way: would a black/white UFA get this deal? No. But you know why? Because if Lin were black/white, he’d have been playing at Stanford and been drafted late 1st round. Instead he had to do it the hard way, and he did it in style (did you SEE the matchup vs. Wall?). He finally gets a bone tossed his way and you’re suddenly interested in “Social Issues In Sport 101.”

by StefanUrkel on Jul 21, 2025 5:56 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

schroeder is right, lin makes for great story

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/07/16/lin.andrews/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

“Lin, captain of the California Division II state champs at Palo Alto High School, was a shoo-in for the state’s player of the year. He was first-team All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year. Yet he received no Division I scholarship offers upon graduation.”

hmm i wonder why…..if he did get one, that would have made a great ‘story’….but he didn’t…poor lin

“Lin, who averaged 16 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as a senior point guard for the Crimson last season, was voted All-Ivy League First Team twice, was a finalist for the John Wooden and Bob Cousy awards”

but he didn’t win because he didn’t play for kentucky…would have made ANOTHER great story, but he didn’t win. impressive, john wooden AND bob cousy award but yea…aww poor lin

“His best outing came last Thursday against the Washington Wizards and the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick, John Wall. Lin scored 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting in just 28 minutes while Wall was 4-of-19 in 33 minutes while scoring 21 points. Many of those who filled the gym on the campus of Nevada-Las Vegas probably felt Lin outplayed the highly touted Wall. That was evident on the video that made its way to YouTube. (it can be seen it at ”http://www.pasportsonline.com" target="_blank">www.pasportsonline.com) Lin came away from the summer league with nothing but positives.“For me, it meant I can play at this level; I can play in the NBA,” Lin said. “There are a lot of critics out there, but I think I showed people what I could do.”

awww lin outplayed john wall…..must have been his race again…another ‘good story’…yay for lin!

“The problem in that, though, is that Lin is getting opportunities that could be afforded to other players without the amazing background story - and I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

totally agree…so sick of lin’s ‘playing better than john wall’ bob cousy/wooden nominated story. soooooo many better ballers that has those stats and awards, like…um…..like…..let me get back to you on that one…

by Neaato on Jul 21, 2025 7:10 AM EDT reply actions

Lin makes for a great story...Because Lin's story is great!

"The problem in that, though, is that Lin is getting opportunities that could be afforded to other players without the amazing background story – and I’m not sure how I feel about that."

I’m assuming you’re being facetious.

So again my question to Scott would be what player, if any was denied an opportunity? The bottom line is Lin has been the one (by all accounts) who was looked passed due to his race, and now on the cusp of it actually benefiting him someone has a problem with it? Wow.

More power to you Jeremy Lin. More power to every underdog and guy who has been discarded and doubted. Whether because of height, nationality, character or circumstance. Shine on.

by thesaleem on Jul 21, 2025 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Um, is Lin's contract offer really that generous ...

…. “Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the Warriors, by offering to guarantee more than half of Lin’s potential first-year salary of nearly $500,000, have reached an agreement with the point guard from Harvard.”

Sounds like he’s getting maybe 300K, not very outrageous at all.

… So what exactly is the real problem? …

by Malamba on Jul 21, 2025 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

The money is not at all outrageous

But I think the question is whether or not he’s done enough to earn it yet. Are there any other undrafted FAs getting guaranteed contracts already, after only a handful games against guys who will be bagging groceries next week?

It is a good low risk/high reward move for GSW, if a little unusual.

by richardhkirkando on Jul 21, 2025 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

I don’t have a problem with the amount of money, just that it’s peculiar that he was guaranteed a large portion of that money - Ben Uzoh and Brian Zoubek, the other two undrafted free agents that have signed with an NBA team, didn’t get the same treatment.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

And Zoubek

might actually develop into an NBA starter, something I unfortunately can’t ever picture Lin becoming.

by motown313 on Jul 21, 2025 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe "picture" isn't the right word, considering the context

and if he can guard Wall, then why can’t he become a starter? btw, Zoubek is crappy, but I suppose anyone that tall could by default become a “starter”.

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by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jul 21, 2025 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I never said he was horrible

but let’s just say that summer league games don’t carry an awful lot of weight. Greg Monroe posted 27 and 14 in a summer league game, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to come into the NBA and instantly be a 20 and 10 guy. I’m not going to say Summer League games are completely irrelevant, but they sure as hell don’t determine whether a player will be successful in the NBA or not. I’m not impressed by what he did against a 19-year old who has yet to play in a single NBA game; I’ll be impressed if he does it against Chris Paul, Deron Williams, etc.

by motown313 on Jul 21, 2025 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

this looks like the wrong thread for a joke

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by fetch9 on Jul 21, 2025 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

I'd be open to it

But I think the rest of the comments wouldn’t be pretty.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 21, 2025 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeremy Lin, Sun Yue, and Joe Alexander walk into a bar...

by richardhkirkando on Jul 21, 2025 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

So I saw Jeremy Lin driving the other day...

ok that’s it.

As far as his bball prowess goes, he wasn’t great statistically in college, and he played at Harvard. Granted he had to carry that team and he had a good game the first time they played Cornell, but he didn’t dominate a low D1 conference. I like him, but I think it’s a weird signing.

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by fetch9 on Jul 21, 2025 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

It's hard to imagine 3 (Possibly 4) NBA teams all taking part in a PR stunt.

I don’t wish to offend anyone, but I have a feeling that Lin’s Asian-American background played a rather substantial role in what seems to have amounted to a bidding war between two teams with large Asian communities - the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State - as well as the Dallas Mavericks (who previously showed to have interest in signing and assigning Lin to their new NBA Development League team).

I don’t mean to infer that Lin isn’t worth an NBA training camp invite (he most certainly is), but I do feel that his race had a prominent role in his getting a better contract than probably any other player without prior NBA experience this offseason.

The Lakers don’t need the extra jersey sales, or PR, they are already the leagues 2nd highest revenue team and the defending NBA champs. They planned on developing Lin to someday replace an aging Derick Fisher. Same thing with the Mavs (Also one of the highest revenue teams in the NBA). They saw the skills he had as a player, and his work ethic.
And they wanted to take a low priced gamble on some raw talent.

The Warriors need Lin because he’s a local hero, and can become the face of this franchise, whether that face is Black/White/ Latino …. etc. He’s a local talent. That’s what they want.

by Whitman Lam on Jul 21, 2025 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

As I said (and you quoted)

I think he has the talent to play in the NBA, I was just wondering how much his story led to him getting a larger-than-usual portion of his contract guaranteed.

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by Scott Schroeder on Jul 22, 2025 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions