Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin
Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin goes up to the basket during the 2015 NBA Global Games against Los Angeles Clippers in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, October 11, 2015. Reuters

Hitting free agency in the 2015 season, point guard Jeremy Lin admitted that he thought of a return to New York but stated that the Knicks never had a real interest in re-acquiring him. Instead, the Asian-American guard signed with another Eastern Conference team in the Charlotte Hornets.

“There was no conversation other than them telling me they weren’t interested,” Lin told the New York Daily News as his Hornets met the Knicks in a pre-season game on Friday. “I’ve always been open to it, ever since I, you know, I don’t want to say I necessarily left, ever since. But I’ve always been open to it. But I don’t think they’re as open to it.”

“Linsanity” exploded with the Knicks in the 2011-2012 NBA Season as Lin broke into the NBA scene by showing that he could be a legit player despite being undrafted the year before. Despite the success, he was not re-signed by the Knicks at that time and eventually had stints with the Houston Rockets from 2012 to 2014 and Los Angeles Lakers from 2014 to 2015.

Lin did not play in the pre-season match-up, which the Hornets won, 97-93. Charlotte’s rookie Frank Kaminsky came off the bench to score 11 points and grab 8 rebounds to lead the Hornets to their fifth win in many games in this pre-season. Lin missed the game because of an illness but has produced good numbers in his first four games with the Hornets.

In the 2015 pre-season, Lin has averages of 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. If the minutes average (24.3 per game) in the pre-season is any indication, it appears Lin will be one of the key rotation players for the Hornets for the upcoming NBA season.

The Hornets lost Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a season-ending injury earlier in the off-season to open more minutes in the wings and backcourt in Charlotte’s depth chart. Lin is expected to assume some of those minutes and will have an increased role in backing-up starting PG Kemba Walker and possibly the 2-spot behind Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lamb.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES