Jeremy Lin chose an opportunity with the G League Santa Cruz Warriors instead of continuing to play professionally in China, hoping to catch up with the organization and possibly win a place in the NBA.
Although Lin was injured and limited to five of the Warriors’ 12 games in the G League bubble in Orlando, Florida, rookie point guard Nico Mannion spoke after Sunday’s victory over Austin Spurs about how much he appreciated the veteran’s leadership.
Mannion and Lin’s combined 52-point effort fueled Santa Cruz’s eighth consecutive victory on Sunday, as Sea Dubs is now just half a game from Erie Bayhawks for the bubble’s best record.
RELATED: Mannion Leads Sea Dubs in Scoring in G League Bubble Win
Lin averages 19.6 points and 7.2 assists per game in five games for the G League Warriors. At 32, the native of Palo Alto is the oldest statesman on a team almost entirely made up of players who have not yet turned 25.
Especially for a player like Mannion, a second round pick of the Warriors in November, who the organization wanted to have more playing time competing in the G League, being able to absorb Lin’s knowledge was a tremendous resource.
Mannion and Jordan Poole, the second highest scorer in the G League, are likely to return to the Warriors’ bench in the NBA as soon as the G League game is over, and working alongside Lin should do the trick for them.
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