Prepared this sharing for the recent Crossroad Sports Tchoukball League before our game last sunday and thought these are valuable values and sporting lessons we can learnt from this recent raising star of the NBA scene!
Who here have heard about the recent NBA basketball superstar Jeremy Lin?
In early February, a friend of mine posted a game that he just played on my Facebook wall. He was apparently an undrafted player who got miraculously chosen to be part of an NBA game. I’m not really a basketball fan, but when I saw the highlights of that game and how he scored that massive 38 points against the LA Lakers, I was wondering, who in the world is this Chinese boy playing at a high level NBA game with the Americans. He was a total odd ball of what a usual NBA player would be, his was a Harvard Graduate, He was Chinese and his a devout Christian.
Soon his videos and story flooded face book. If you haven’t heard about this boy you should catch his video and his powerful testimony.
So it intrigues me to search more on what was his “secret formula” for his success. Read a few of his articles and decided to share some lessons learnt from him.
An Interview with Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and led his basketball team at Palo Alto High School to the state championships in his senior year. At Harvard University, Lin has built a national following, has been hailed as one of the finest point guards in the nation, and stands poised to enter the NBA as a high draft pick and the first Asian-American to achieve prominence in the NBA.
Lin is among those receiving the highest number of votes for the Bob Cousy award, given annually to the nation's most effective point guard. He has been profiled in Time, Sports Illustrated and ESPN: The Magazine, as well as countless basketball magazines and newspapers from the United States to China.
He once said that if he could get more than just a 10 day contract in the NBA, he would write an autobiography. Why?So that he could use it to share his faith.
1) He was Humble
One of the greatest lessons Learnt from Him, is he is someone who is truly humble.
Kobe Bryant said before his game against Jeremy Lin's New York Knicks.
"I know who he is, but I don't really know what's going on too much with him," said Bryant of the Chinese-American sensation. "I don't even know what he's done. Like, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I'll take a look at it tonight though."
Soon, one of NBA's greatest would be silenced in the following game where Jeremy Lin outgunned Kobe with a startling 38 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in his first game nationally syndicated by ESPN.
Lin said he did not have to prove himself. He did not have to boast about himself. He just played to His best and allowed God to use him.
2) He had Discipline
Lin has been described by commentators as a smart player and a "student of the game". His high school coach said that in high school, Lin studied game videos of Magic Johnson playing for the LA Lakers. Even during the half time of the Lakers game, he was watching the tape of the first half to figure out how to play better against the LA defence which the commentators were startled to hear!
3) He was Team Player
Unselfish people are loved more
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Lin has captured the imagination of the watching world, not just because he is successful, but because he is unselfish. In each game that he played, he had a serious number of assists. He was not looking for his own glory but seeking to help the rest of his team to lift. He has become a phenomenon but unlike many other phenomenon’s, not too many people are getting jealous over him, but are celebrating with him. Everyone loves unselfish people and that is something that Lin has demonstrated.
4) He was Single- minded
In the sports you play, are you single-minded? What drives you?
Colossians 3:23
“ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...”Similar for Jeremy, he wasn’t focus alone on winning. His perspective was totally different.
When asked whether he felt pressured having to play for the Christians, the Asians in America and also on behalf of Ivy League graduates.
He said this to the reporters. “I’m not working hard and practicing day in and day out so that I can please other people. My audience is God".
That was what drives him to where he is today. So what drives you?
A couple of his live testimonies recorded before he became a superstar...
References
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/well-the-white-christians-support-this-christian-athlete-like-they-support-the-white-football-player/question-2455579/
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Faith-and-Fate-of-Jeremy-Lin?offset=0&max=1
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