Former Harvard point guard Jeremy Lin believes he still has plenty of things to offer for the Los Angeles Lakers, claiming that he hasn't yet reached the peak of his potential as a basketball player.
After several subpar performances, the 26-year old Lin put up his most efficient game in purple-and-gold jersey, as he recorded 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting with three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes in Sunday's 116-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Lin, who is averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 dimes per game this season, is dealing the same up-and-down trend he had the past two seasons with the Houston Rockets. And like what happened in Houston, Lin lost once again his starting job to his backup (Ronnie Price) after spending 20 games with the starting unit.
Since Byron Scott relegated him back to the bench, Lin's numbers dipped significantly as his playing time went from 31 minutes per game to just below 20 minutes.
On Sunday, Lin took most of the opportunity to contribute as he breached the 25-minute barrier for the first time since the game against the San Antonio Spurs on December 12. The Lakers guard not only had an efficient shooting night but showed the kind of poise he exhibited during his time with the New York Knicks during crunch time.
During a post-game interview, Lin agreed that his solid outing against the Suns was something he wanted to build on and save his floundering career. He also felt there are still plenty of things he could offer for the Lakers at this point of the season.
"I can definitely build on this," Lin said via Lakers Nation. "I respectfully disagree I think there's more I can do and there's more I can show, I appreciate it though. I still think I can make even more plays for this team. But when you talk about reaching my full potential there's still more."
Lin Wants More Minutes?
By the sound of it, Lin's recent comment is aimed towards Scott, who has been placing a hard cap on his playing time the past few games. The Lakers coach currently has Price on a 10-game audition as the starting point guard, and there's a great chance the veteran would keep his job for the remainder of the season.
With his current contract expiring at the end of the campaign, Lin desperately needs more action on the floor to keep his stock attractive for next summer's free-agency. Perhaps, he only wanted to remind Scott that he's still the better playmaker than Price, who is averaging just 5 points, 3.6 assists and 1.8 rebounds in the season.
