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This kind of excitement hasn’t been felt in Toyota Center in some time and the Rockets are hoping to get some of it. What’s even more interesting is the game you’re hearing wasn’t a home game for Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.
Those are Toronto fans cheering.
That’s how crazy things got for the Knicks and Jeremy Lin this season. Some called it Linsanity.
“We certainly do need him and he’s gonna be a great asset to the Rockets and hopefully we make it to the playoffs this year.”
That’s Houston Resident Antonio Sanchez. Sanchez hopes the Rockets can land Lin and then entice All-Star Dwight Howard to come to Houston as well.
Sanchez’s friend Dennis Romero believes Lin would bring a much needed buzz to the Rockets organization.
“He’s the kind of player, like a brand player. He brings money to the team. He’s a franchise player.”
Some say Lin is an obvious fit in Houston, because of his Asian heritage. With Yao Ming gone, Lin could step right in.
This is Houston sports fan Robert Gilmore.
“He would definitely be good for the Asian community. Yao Ming definitely got people fired up about it, so it definitely wouldn’t be a bad thing. He seems like a quality guy and he handled everything that happened last year with a lot of class and even when he getting a hard time by some of the media you know, he seemed to keep it all together pretty good.”
Former NBA player turned Coach Jarren Jackson likes the Rocket’s decision to go after Lin.
“They’re recognizing that they were a middle of the PAC team especially in the western conference and they pretty much need a bold move to relinquish all their roster. The buzz for Jeremy Lin, I think it’s a good buzz.”
Not everyone is sold on Lin. He played his college ball at Harvard and after graduation, wasn’t picked in the NBA draft. Lin played for several teams and was even on the Rockets roster a short while before being let go. But Jackson says he’s seen enough to know Lin can make a difference.
“He’s not your superstar player. It depends on what you expect out of him. But he can be a solid NBA player and he’s and unselfish guy. He makes guys look better, great passer, poised …”
How good Lin will be, no one knows for sure. But if he can bring some of that same excitement to Houston, some say that $28 million contract will be well worth it.