Jeremy Lin is aware that a lot of attention is on him as he proves he has what it takes to be a starter in the NBA. That said, it is seen as a prerogative that could spark a feud with old flames such as Carmelo Anthony.
Thanks to a revelation by former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni on the state of the team when he was still in New York, a rift between Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony was brought out in the open, ESPN reported. That jab is still up in the air but the American-Asian is unlikely to pay try and show up Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony fetes Jeremy Lin as new franchise player of Brooklyn Nets
Jeremy Lin sat out their pre-season game against the Knicks and such raised questions which come as a surprise. For any team, saving the starters and giving the budding players jockeying to make the roster is a given though the battle of New York focused on Lin and Anthony.
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson explained the reason behind Lin’s benching though some have somehow made it a high-profile move. Apparently, this had something to do with the fact that Anthony was on the other side.
Surprisingly, Anthony praised Jeremy Lin and called him the new face of the Brooklyn Nets franchise. When asked if he heard of it, the 28-year-old guard admits having heard of it but hardly added any color on reports of a brewing rivalry, NY Daily News reported.
For Lin, there are far more important things to do than start something against a former teammate and established NBA star. Aside from D’Antoni’s dish, there is no reason to believe that the two would develop a rivalry.
Both are in New York and more concerned about leading their ballclubs. Both need to prove they are deserving of their current roles rather than bark at each other which is entirely senseless.
