Jeremy Lin will be entering his contract year in the upcoming 2014-15 season and it appears that the new Los Angeles Lakers point guard will have a long-term future in a purple and gold jersey.
Veteran point guard Steve Nash, who is looking to return strong in the upcoming season after being slowed down by different injuries last year, said in an interview with Lakers Nation that he is impressed with Lin in their first few practices.
Nash said that Lin, who was acquired by the Lakers via an offseason trade with the Houston Rockets, said that Lin could pose problems to their opponents with his ability to attack the basket and create scoring opportunities for their teammates.
"He gets to the basket. He can really get in there at the rim, cause problems, create fouls," Nash said of Lin, who will be playing in the final year of his contract with the Lakers.
First-year Lakers coach Byron Scott also had nothing but praises for Lin. The veteran mentor spoke highly of Lin's effort on the defensive end of the floor and his playmaking skills, particularly the way he pushes the ball on offense.
"I like him a lot. I really do," Scott said of Lin via LA Times. "On defense he really knows where to be. He's gritty, just like I knew he would be. He's going to guard you to the best of his ability, and he never gives up on a play. Offensively he runs the team. He gets to the basket. I love the way he pushes the ball in the open floor."
Lin, who averaged 12.5 points to go along with 4.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game last season, is looking for another breakout year in the upcoming season after losing his starting spot to Patrick Beverley in his final year at Houston.
The 26-year-old point guard is also optimistic that the Lakers will manage to bounce back from a 27-55 finish last season, praising coach Scott's emphasis on defense and conditioning.
"The running comes with the territory, it's kind of what you have to do at the beginning," Lin said. "After a while, we'll get into more playing and less running, after we establish our defensive principles."
