New York Knicks: 17 Reasons to Love Jeremy Lin

Just a couple of months ago, New York Knicks fans were introduced to Jeremy Lin.  A graduate of Harvard University, Lin went from being an undrafted benchwarmer to the star of his team, all in less than two years.

He got his chance with the Knicks after Carmelo Anthony was injured in a game against the New Jersey Nets on February 4 and subsequently went on to take All-Star Deron Williams to school as the Knicks proceeded to go on a seven-game winning streak.  New York City was then overcome with a condition that came to be known as "Linsanity."

Even through losing streaks and a coaching change, Lin has continued to play effectively and help turn the Knicks from frustrating losers into a team that could not only make the playoffs, but contend in them.  Thus, in reference to his uniform number, let's have a look at 17 reasons to love the guy.

Call me a sap, but I'm a sucker for athletes who come from humble beginnings.  Such is the case for Lin, whose parents (pictured) came to the US from Taiwan. 

To go from being the son of immigrants to an NBA star, that's one happy story.

I come from a big family myself, so Jeremy Lin's story touches me in a way most others may not understand.  He is one of three sons born to his parents, and he was also close with his grandmother as a child.

This guy clearly holds family as a high value, and what's not to like about that?

Because who doesn't like a guy with brains?

This one is for all of you younger readers who may be looking to apply to Lin's alma mater, so watch the video and take notes!

This isn't exactly surprising, but still kind of incredible.  Lin is the league's first Ivy Leaguer since center Chris Dudley (pictured), who went to Yale.

In my travels, I've found that people tend to go berserk over people who went to Harvard—or any Ivy League school for that matter.  Take former Vice President Al Gore, who graduated from Harvard in 1969.  Yet, despite the fact that a degree from there is great to have on one's resume, Gore was an average student.

Lin, on the other hand, graduated with a 3.1 GPA.

I have a lot of respect for players who aren't first-round picks as well as those who weren't drafted at all.  These guys had a goal in mind—to play pro basketball—and stopped at nothing to make that dream come true.

Such is Lin's story, as he was not drafted.  Yet, instead of giving up, he joined the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League so that he could improve his game.  In the end, he signed a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

He may have ridden the bench for most of his career and may have a few more trips to the D-League than the average NBA guard, but Lin has still refused to give up.  He wanted to play in the NBA, and now he's doing just that as one of its most popular players.

The mark of a star in the making is one who knows how to make himself better, and Lin took that into consideration during the lockout.  Instead of just being comfortable with the contract situation he had with the Warriors, Lin spent his extended offseason improving his jump shot and his strength on an already spindly frame.

That said, it's no wonder that he's had such a positive impact whilst playing for the Knicks.

If I had been told at the start of the season that the Knicks' eventual starting point guard would be an undrafted Taiwanese-American from Harvard University, I'd have thought that whoever gave me that news was crazy.  Yet, such has come to be, and Lin has become a folk hero in the process.

From the term "Linsanity" to some creative signs at Knicks games to there being viewing parties at restaurants in Chinatown, he became an overnight legend and given his play since that fateful night against the Nets, his legend will only continue to grow.

My parents taught me to always be a team player willing to start from the bottom, and Jeremy Lin's parents must have taught him the same.  He has been assigned to the D-League four different times in his career and has not made one peep about it.

Today, he is one of the more effective point guards in the NBA thanks to continued development and improvement there.

Take a look at Lin's stat line from one D-League game with the Erie Bayhawks this season: 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a 122-113 victory over the Maine Red Claws. 

That's impressive no matter what league you're in.

Well, now we have the cure for a bad day!

They may have not gone on one date, but Lin apparently drew the interest of veteran WAG Kim Kardashian.  I don't know about you, but I'd have a whole new reason to like one of my friends if I found out that Kim Kardashian had inquired about their relationship status.

That said, rock on, J-Lin!

Just when you think he's just a passing point guard with a decent jump shot, here comes another surprise about Jeremy Lin.  Watch him go up against former No. 1 pick John Wall and then make him look like a scrub.

The problem with the Knicks for most of the season was that despite having two stars in Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, they had no true point guard to feed them the ball.  Thus, turning to Lin in February was basically out of desperation.

This proved to be the right move as Lin has averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 assists and just under two steals per game since taking over.  In that time, through winning streaks, losing streaks and a coaching change that saw Mike D'Antoni replaced with Mike Woodson, Lin has helped the Knicks go from lowly underachievers to serious playoff contenders.

As a Knicks fan, that puts a huge smile on my face.

As most of you may know, Lin is currently on the bench for six weeks as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn knee meniscus.  Despite that, he has stayed positive and even posted this picture on his Twitter.

The picture itself isn't meant to be funny, but hear me out.  Anyone who allows a picture of himself just out of surgery and looking...well..."tired," has to have a great sense of humor.

He plays great basketball, is smart, has a great attitude and to top it all off, he can dance?  Thank you, doctor, but I'll decline the medication to cure my case of Linsanity!