After failing to sign big-name free agents this past off-season, the Los Angeles Lakers first move was acquiring Jeremy Lin and a first-round draft pick from the Houston Rockets. Shortly after, Kobe Bryant texted the point guard and had a very specific message for him.
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Lin started the first 20 games of the season for the Lakers and during that stretch, the team went 5-15. With Lin struggling to sleep, he received a text message from the five-time champion who was also awake one morning according to ESPN’s Pablo S. Torre:
Lin enters this maze alone. But one such night earlier this season, around 1 in the morning, his iPhone blinked awake with a directive from a teammate who was sleepless in his own way.
I hope you’re absolutely pissed off at the way the season’s going, Bryant wrote.
Heading into the season, there were high expectations for Lin as he had an opportunity to start and play major minutes. However, the-five year point guard out of Harvard struggled with consistency and was replaced by Ronnie Price and Jordan Clarkson.
Since the All-Star break, Lin has played well and was recently put back into the starting lineup alongside Clarkson. In 17 games, Lin is averaging 14.6 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field.
With the Lakers evaluating their roster with 12 games remaining, Lin becomes an unrestricted free agent this upcoming off-season. Although Lin has played well, head coach Byron Scott said that while he is an NBA player, the draft will determine what happens in free agency.
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