December 22, 2024 15:06 PM

Jeremy Lin Feels Happy Rockets Traded Him To Lakers; Calls Deal Breath of Fresh Air

Jeremy Lin compared the offseason trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers to a breath of fresh of air, as the Asian American star braces for a new chapter of his career as a member of the purple-and-gold franchise.

Lin, who was traded by the Houston Rockets along with a first round pick to the Lakers in a move to create cap spaces, admitted he's glad to start his career anew after two up-and-down seasons in Houston.

"I'm definitely excited to be in LA," Lin said in an interview with Lakers Nation after unveiling his wax figure at Madamme Tussauds. "How I describe it, it is a fresh start. It's a breath of fresh air to be able to start somewhere new."

"I think it'll be really fun, really challenging. I enjoyed my time in Houston, but I'm definitely focused in on next year."

The 26-year old Lin averaged 12 points and 4 dimes per game in a backup role for the Rockets last season. Despite significant drop in points and assists production, the former Harvard hot shot recorded career-highs in both field goal (45 percent) and three-point shooting (36 percent) percentages.

Lin and the Lakers are scheduled to face the Rockets on opening night, and many basketball followers believed that game will feature Lin as a subplot alongside the enmity brewing between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.

"To be honest, I think I'm a subplot," Lin told Lakers Nation. "I'm glad, but it's not an opening night centered around me. It's more Kobe and Dwight."

"It kind of reminds me of me going back to New York. Every time I go back to New York now, it's not really as nearly a big of a deal. It was James versus Melo, and now it's Kobe versus Melo. So, I do think it'll be fun. It'll be interesting. I think we're all pretty excited for the game."

The Lakers head into the new season with roster primarily consists of expiring contracts (Lin and Boozer), rookies (Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle) and holdovers from the 2013-14 season (Nick Young, Xavier Henry, Steve Nash, Robert Sacre and Bryant).

For more Jeremy Lin news, read more at IBT Sports

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Jeremy Lin trade, Jeremy Lin news, NBA rumors
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