Jeremy Lin Is No Fluke:

It’s also worth watching to see whether Lin can extend the streak tonight against Minnesota. Only 17 of the 41 players had streaks that lasted for longer than four games, with many of the more marginal players dropping off the list.

[Er, um, done:]

Lin LIfts Knicks past Timberwolves:

But he still became the first player in N.B.A. history to post at least 20 points and 7 assists in his first four starts, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, while outplaying the flashy Minnesota rookie point guard Ricky Rubio. And he burnished his growing legacy at the finish, making the second of two free throws for the go-ahead point with 4.9 seconds to play as the Knicks, who trailed most of the second half, eked out the victory. 

[And next…]

Only five players had such a streak that lasted for six games or longer. Four of them are Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade. The other was less illustrious: Lafayette “Fat” Lever.

[Now, on the bigger picture…]

Bryant had this to say:

…in hushed tones for gravitas: “When a player is playing that well, he doesn’t come out of nowhere. It seems like he comes out of nowhere. Go back and take a look, and the skill level was probably there from the beginning, it’s just that we didn’t notice it.”

[This is something I’ve been teaching people for years. No one comes out of nowhere. No actor, no musician, no business. It just doesn’t work that way. Yes, you can win the lotto of life at times, but the odds are just that long. Almost 100% of the time there’s years of effort behind an “overnight sensation”.]

Stuff like this has network effects:

For me, as an Asian-American, the chants of “M.V.P.!” raining down on Lin at the Garden embody a surreal, Jackie Robinson-like moment. Just as meaningful to me as a Christian, however, is the way the broadcasters have hailed Lin as not just the “Harvard hero” but the “humble Harvard grad.” His teammates appear just as overjoyed at his success as he was. Both seem to be testaments to his character.

In the midst of his stellar run last week, I couldn’t help but reflect on Lin’s journey. A Bible verse that he has cited as a favorite came to mind, encouraging believers that “suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.”