Jeremy Lin Shares NBA Struggles, NY Knicks Breakthrough With Math Students: Never Give Up
Jeremy Lin is sharing some of his NBA struggles with kids in order to encourage them.
Lin, the 27-year-old Charlotte Hornets point guard, is teaming up with Khan Academy learn system, which is a platform that provides students math resources outside of the classroom. Although Lin's message didn't have much to do with math, it did encourage people not to give up when odds seem insurmountable.
"After my first year in the NBA I got cut by two different teams and I remember at that point I was pretty discouraged. I was considering quitting or taking a break from basketball," Lin said in a Khan Academy LearnStorm video. "I'm glad I stuck with it because the third team that picked me up was New York Knicks and from there I got to find a great opportunity for me to play and showcase what I can do as a basketball player. Had I not given it another shot or had I not continued to play, I would have lost a tremendous opportunity and now I'm entering my sixth year in the NBA."
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While Lin expressed his gratitude for the ability to play in the professional basketball league, he also admitted that he is also struggling.
"It's just a tremendous opportunity to be here and play. For me, right now this past summer I changed my shot," Lin said. "I think I've been going through a year where I haven't shot the ball nearly as well as I wanted to. I think that's been frustrating for me."
Although some of Lin's peers have been able to find success with their game this season, Lin admits that hasn't come so easily for him. However, he remained optimistic when sharing his message with the kids he was encouraging.
"I know some of my teammates have done different things with their shots and they've seen different successes this season," Lin said. "So for me, even in this moment right now because I know as long as I continue to work hard over time I'll see the results that I want. Sometimes it clicks right away, but sometimes it's a long process and it can be painful at times."
For the NBA player, it was important to go through the trials and tribulations of his process.
"Sometimes it's kind of like a rollercoaster where you might be taking two steps forward, two steps back. But with everything I feel like at some point in time it really clicks," he said. "You kind of turn a corner and you make an improvement you want to see. So for me, learning new skills through my life has just always trying to stick with it, love the process."
In his 16th email sent to his digital prayer group earlier this month, Lin expressed his frustrations.
"Please pray for me as recently I have been frustrated with my jump shot and overall performance. The new shooting form has been one of the most frustrating things of my career," Lin wrote. "I know it will pay off in the long run but going through the adjustment process has been harder than I anticipated, so prayer for the right mindset, great muscle memory and a pure heart that shoots/plays solely for God's approval would be greatly appreciated!"
