What makes jeremy lin so special

Just when the Knicks were about to release Jeremy Lin before his contract became guaranteed, coach Mike D'Antoni decided to give Lin a legitimate chance, and Linsanity ensued. The point is, Jeremy Lin has had to work extremely hard for everything he's earned during his basketball career, and that's what makes him so special. Lin's journey to the NBA is a result of perseverance, which has led him to be a very humble and unassuming player that doesn't act like he's entitled to anything.

Lin's journey to the NBA was an absolute struggle, an that's built in him an appreciation for what he has, which is one of the reasons why he's such a special player. Leadership, in its truest form, is most valuable when it's rooted in action rather than mere words.

That's exactly what makes Tim Tebow a legitimate leader, and it's the same reason why Jeremy Lin is so valuable to the Knicks.

Sure, the Knicks have veteran stars on their roster like Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, but their true leader is Jeremy Lin, and it's not because of what he says, it's because of what he does both on and off the court. The way Linsanity puts his heart on the court night in and night out is exactly what the New York Knicks needed when they were sitting at before Lin entered the starting lineup.

The Knicks didn't need another star player to score 25 plus points every night, although Lin's doing that too. The Knicks needed a player that they could rally around, a player that the Knicks' underperforming bench could be led by, and that player was none other than Jeremy Lin.

Lin didn't run his mouth about everything he wanted to bring to the Knicks' starting lineup, and he didn't guarantee anything to the media. Instead, Lin quietly walked onto the court, showed the Knicks the kind of leader he truly is and became the overnight sensation that he is today. The basketball world could use more players like Jeremy Lin. Guys that put their actions before their words, and show everyone what they're made of through what they do on the court.

Jeremy Lin could score 10 points and grab five assists a night and he'd still be the Knicks' most valuable player because he is a true leader, and that's what the Knicks needed the most. If you've followed the Linsanity hype train over the past few weeks, you've undoubtedly heard about one of the biggest weaknesses in Jeremy Lin's game, which is his proclivity to turn the ball over.

In nine games as a starter, Lin is averaging 5. It proves that Jeremy Lin isn't afraid to take risks and subsequently make mistakes. The New York Knicks are a below. Is Jeremy Lin really that good? Apparently, he is that good. How many championships does Lin have? Does have three like Brady? Does he have one or two? Oh wait, he has zero. Until he can prove himself in big games and down the road in the playoffs, Lin will be nothing better than an above average NBA player.

Nevertheless, the next time Lin has a good game will be the next time that another sports writer will start comparing him to Michael Jordan. No doubt about it, Lin is a good player. As a point guard, he distributes the basketball exceptionally well and can make that timely or clutch shot when his team needs it most.

His two main problems, however, are his lack of defensive skill and his turnovers. On defense, Lin is often lost and he is by far the weakest link. On some nights, Lin also has an outrageous amount of turnovers as a result of his somewhat sloppy dribbling skills. Yet, despite these deficiencies, he makes everyone around him better. Nevertheless, he still has some flaws which are seemingly ignored by many of the experts out there. For example, last Sunday when the Knicks played the Celtics, Rajon Rondo put up some astounding numbers, with 18 points, 20 assists, and 17 rebounds.

Who was covering him all game? Jeremy Lin. No matter how good Rondo is, that is pitiful and pathetic defense. Lin also had six turnovers in the game. Along with that, Rondo not only contained him but made him a non-factor throughout the game. He also missed six shots in overtime as the Knicks fell in a OT loss to the Celtics. He has never made an All-Star team, making him the very definition of a journeyman.

By the time he landed in Toronto, it was clear that he was no longer a full-time player. Lin was never going to be an all-time great.

What Lin ended up being was a very good player who has managed to stay in the league for nine seasons despite being completely overlooked at the start of his career. His story remains one of the most remarkable ones in basketball history and not just as a one-season wonder. Sports remain cruel in one respect: players find themselves looking at the end of their careers at ages when most people have barely started theirs.

If he wants it, Lin will probably get a shot to latch onto another NBA team, although it will be as a veteran player coming off the bench.