Jeremy Lin: The Incredible Rise of the NBA's Most Unlikely Superstar

Who would have thought that an Asian-American, who stood just 5'3" tall as a freshman in high school, and eventually went to Harvard to major in economics, would become the NBA's most talked about star in decades? But that's exactly what happened to Jeremy Lin.

Undrafted out of college and subsequently waived in short order by both the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, Lin was signed by the underachieving New York Knicks. After a three-game stint in the D-League for players deemed not yet good enough, he was recalled when a roster spot opened. In his first twenty-three games, however, he played just fifty-five total minutes and was again close to being cut. Then, on February 4, he came off the bench against the New Jersey Nets and scored 25 points and led the Knicks to victory. He started the following game and took off, scoring 28 points and adding 8 assists.

And just like that...Linsanity was born. In his first five starts, the now 6'3" Lin not only showed that he knew all the nuances of playing point guard, but also made the players around him better. With the Knicks two biggest stars--Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire--out of the lineup, the Knicks won seven straight, making Jeremy Lin the toast of New York and the biggest feel-good story in the NBA. Madison Square Garden is again rocking every night as Jeremy Lin continues to lead his team toward an unexpected playoff berth.

An amazing journey; from his brothers couch to the court at MSG.

“Persistence beats talents all day long.” —Jeremy Lin

Who would have thought that an Asian American who majored in economics at Harvard would become the NBAs most talked about star? While the story seems more like Hollywood fantasy, it has really happened.

Undrafted out of college and waived in short order by the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin was signed by the underachieving New York Knicks in December 2011. In his first twenty-three games, he played only fifty-five total minutes and was close to being cut again.

Then, on February 4, 2012, with the Knick decimated by injury, he came off the bench against the New Jersey Nets and scored 25 points, leading the Knicks to victory. He started the following game and topped that with 28 points and eight assists. Linsanity was born!

Here Lins full story—from the playgrounds of Palo Alto to a high school championship to the Ivy League to sleeping on his brothers couch to stardom at Madison Square Garden. As he begins the 2012-2013 reason with a new contract totaling almost $30 million for four years, his story will entertain and inspire sports fans and non-sports fans alike.

BILL GUTMAN is a sportswriter who is the author of more than 200 books, including Tales from the 1969-1970 New York Knicks, What if the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox? and Yankees by the Numbers.