Jeremy Lin vs. Yao Ming: Who Made a Bigger Impact in Their Prime? Nets Point Guard, Rockets Center Achievements & NBA Stat Comparison [POLL]
Jeremy Lin has been compared to Yao Ming since he ignited the "Linsanity" euphoria with the New York Knicks in 2012. Lin and Ming are both of East Asian descent and both played for the Houston Rockets. Both of them carved a name in the NBA that is dominated by African-American players.
Ming will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the coming days. Four years after Lin became a household name, did he achieve enough to match Ming's record?
Lin vs. Ming: NBA Stat Comparison
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The head-to-head comparison created by Land of Basketball shows that Lin still has a lot to prove before he can chase Ming's legacy in the league. Ming did not win any NBA championship but he was named to the All-NBA Team five times and played for the NBA All-Star Game eight times. Throughout his eight-year NBA career, the former center of the Rockets averaged 19 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
On the other hand, Lin has never played yet at an NBA All-Star Game. Just like Ming, his past teams did not win an NBA title. He averaged 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the past six seasons of the league.
Despite being left behind by Ming's career statistics, there is still a big possibility that Lin can chase the legacy of his fellow Asian player. Lin holds a lot of promise in the 2016-17 NBA season. He is set to lead the Brooklyn Nets as a starting point guard.
Worldwide Popularity
According to Justin Block of The Huffington Post, the impact of Ming as an international ambassador to the game of basketball cannot be understated. He said the retired basketball superstar acted as NBA's bridge into China. He explained that through Ming's stardom, the league squeezed billions from China and engaged millions of fans.
Aside from reaching out to the global fans, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN said that Ming broke stereotypes and initiated racial sensitivity in the league. He stressed that the retired basketball star proved that an Asian can compete at an elite, All-Star level.
Lin shared the same massive popularity in China. Marvin Williams, Lin's former teammate at the Charlotte Hornets, told NBA.com last year he was a witness to the NBA star's unbelievable popularity when they visited China. He said that as soon as they landed, he saw fans rushing to see Lin.
Timothy J. Hwang, a media personality in Taiwan, shared to The New York Times that Lin attracts a lot of attention in Asia, especially to the younger generation. He credited the NBA star as one of the reasons why basketball became the most popular sport in Taiwan.
Poll
Can Jeremy Lin surpass Ming's legacy in the league? Who is the better Asian NBA player? Join our poll below.
