Jul 24, 2014; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak introduces Jeremy Lin during a press conference at Toyota Sports Center.
Jul 24, 2014; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak introduces Jeremy Lin during a press conference at Toyota Sports Center. REUTERS

The man who triggered a worldwide phenomenon and revived albeit all distractions basketball at Madison Square Garden is not banking on lighting striking twice in Los Angeles.

Jeremy Lin was welcomed by his new team the Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. He joins a storied franchise that has featured prominent point guards such as Magic Johnson, Jerry West and now New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher. The Harvard graduate hopes that he can live up to expectations and just play his game and be recognized for what he can contribute and not for past achievements during the Linsanity fever.

"I'm not trying to relive that banner season," Lin said during his introductory news conference with the Lakers on Thursday per ESPN. "I think that's been a big weight off my shoulders and I think that's very important for me as a player. I'm not trying to recreate a 'Linsanity.' I'm not trying to be that phenomenon that happened in New York. I think I just want to be myself more than ever."

After having a weird two years with the Houston Rockets where he started during his first year but was relegated to the bench, the next, Lin is wishing for some stability. He still believes that he is a starter in the league but puts more premiums on who finishes games. As usually the first guy off the bench for the Rockets last season, Lin improved upon many aspects of his game posting career bests in field goal percentage (44.6 percent), three point percentage (35.8) and free throws (82.3 percent).

He also limited his turnovers to 2.5 per game a Achilles heel of his game dating back to the Knicks where he averaged a career high 3.6 turnovers per game. The lynchpin of his game is dribble penetration and kick outs, when at some point in 2014 he was rated as high as 6th in drives and makes per game.

These strong suits are what drove the Los Angeles Lakers to procure him even at a high price. The Lakers sent the rights to Sergei Lishchuk along with cash considerations to acquire the last year of the $15 million back loaded contract of the popular guard. They also got from the Rockets a future first round pick and a 2015 second round pick as consolations.

With the status of Steve Nash remaining uncertain and with the departure of Kendall Marshall, the Lakers may just pencil him in for a starting spot. The only other competition is second round draft pick Jordan Clarkson who will still need some time to develop in before strutting his wares in the NBA.

"If you asked me, or I think if you asked any player, I think they'll believe that they're capable of starting," Lin said. "But I think if there's anything I've learned from this past year, it's really not that much about who starts. I think it's more about who finishes and how you play with the time that you're given."