The idea of adding Jeremy Lin to the All-Star roster may be a hard sell considering the New York Knicks sensation has only five career starts; but it sounds like the league will somehow find a way to bring Linsanity to the party.
According to the New York Daily News, the NBA is trying to maximize the attention Lin is receiving and bringing the Knicks point guard down to the All-Star weekend is a no-brainer.
According to the Daily News source, the NBA is hoping to add Lin to its NBA All-Star lineup by having him participate in the Haier Shooting stars competition during All-Star Saturday night. The competition features one current NBA player, one current WNBA player and one TNT on-air talent and legend on each team.
While it may hard to swallow the thought of a player who was cut by two teams and sitting on the Knicks bench just two weeks ago playing alongside Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose, the NBA knows the underdog Lin is too big a money-maker to keep away.
TV ratings have soared when he plays and stores can't keep his No. 17 jerseys on the racks.
The league hasn't seen a phenomenon like Lin in a long time and— by adding the player with a dozen nicknames to the All-Star weekend— it would be a nice gift to the fans from the NBA after the off-season lockout.
After all, he did breathe some life into the abbreviated season.
Even with basically a six-game season, Lin isn't undeserving of some kind of participation in the All-Star weekend in two weeks.
The 6-foot-3 Knick doesn't have the hops for the Slam Dunk Contest but the Skills Challenge seems to fit him a little better than one of his loose-fitting jerseys.
The Chinese-American Harvard-grad has become an overnight sensation after leading the Knicks to six straight wins since coming off the bench.
Last night, he buried three-point shot with :05 left in regulation to beat the Toronto Raptors and kept his legend growing.
Lin's humble personality and storybook season have made him a fan favorite. He is headed towards Tim Tebow-like adoration.
Linsanity has even made it to the White House.
According to ESPN, President Barack Obama is following the exploits of the reluctant star.
White House spokesman, Jay Carney said the President caught Lin's game-winning shot at the end of Tuesday game while on Marine One to Andrews Air Force Base.
He considers Lin's success a "great story" and it "transcends the sport itself,' said Carney.
Sounds like an endorsement to me.
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