Jeremy Lin says he’s not trying to recreate ‘Linsanity’ with Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today that new point guard Jeremy Lin will wear No. 17 next season.

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That matters because Lin wore that number during his breakout season in 2011-12  with the New York Knicks, which was dubbed “Linsanity.” Lin shocked the basketball world by going from bench warmer to key contributor in February of the season, averaging 20.9 points and 8.4 assists throughout the month. Lin finished the season with averages of 14.6 points and 6.2 assists and became one of the more famous players in the world.

However, Lin made it clear this his decision to go back to No. 17 is not because he’s trying to recreate all the attention he received during that time with the Knicks.

From the Los Angeles Times:

"“I’m not trying to relive that banner season and I think that’s been a big weight off my shoulder. I’m not trying to recreate a ‘Linsanity,’ ” he said. “I’m not trying to be that phenomenon that happened in New York. I just want to be myself more than ever.”(…)"

"“I’m not trying to be a player from the past,” he said. “I’m trying to make history again.”"

While Lin might not want to be the big star he was in New York again, the Lakers could really use him performing as well as he did during that time.

Los Angeles missed out on all the high-profile free agents this summer and need some guys to really step up if they are to avoid the NBA’s lottery again.

Lin averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 assists with the Houston Rockets in 2013-14.