NY Knicks Player Jeremy Lin Sparks 'Lin-Sanity' At Madison Square Garden

Who is this kid Jeremy Lin? That's a question that could've made a lot more sense before he came alive earlier this month, scoring a career-high 25 points off the bench in a game against the New Jersey Nets.

Since then, the American-born Chinese/Taiwanese NBA player has led the struggling Knicks to five straight victories ... and has become an instant fan favorite, even earning a catch-phrase from commentators: "Lin-sanity."

According to NBA.com, Lin went undrafted out of Harvard and was used sparingly by the Golden State Warriors during the 2010-11 season, was waived by the Houston Rockets, and the Knicks sent him to the D-League BayHawks earlier this year, where he worked his way back to as sport on the roster before he was finally given a chance  by a desperate NY team and coach ... and he delivered.

On February 4, Lin had his coming out party, scoring 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists (all career-highs) in a 99–92 Knicks victory over the New Jersey Nets. His performance earned him his first career start the following game against the Utah Jazz and once again, stunned fans, scoring 28 points and eight assists ... and hasn't looked back since.

He scored 23 and recorded a career-high 10 assists against the Washington Wizards last Wednesday (February 8), and then, showed Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers what he was made of last Friday (February 10) when he scored a career-high 38 points and led the Knicks to a win before an ecstatic Madison Square Garden crowd. Saturday (February 11), he scored another 20 in a win over the Timberwolves.

The Lin-sanity continues...

Lin is off to the best scoring start (109 points) to a career of any player since the 1976 NBA/ABA merger, besting legends like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Allen Iverson who previously held the mark of 101.

"It's been pretty surreal," Lin told NBA.com. "I'm just really trying to wake up every day and enjoy, soak it all in, but at the same time stay focused on what we're doing, which is playing basketball games and trying to help the team win. Besides that, just really enjoying the whole experience."

Lin has become an instant Internet sensation. Before he got his shot, he had fewer than 10,000 Twitter followers and as of press time, he's over 208,000 and counting (@JLin7). Apparently, he's been mentioned more on Twitter than LeBron James and his #17 Knicks jersey is the league's top seller over the last eight days.

But, this story almost never happened. According to an NBA.com Hang Time Blog, Lin was "hours away from being released by the Knicks before fate intervened and pushed him into the starting lineup." Some how, some way, it was in the cards for him ... and it's been one hell of a magical ride for the 23-year-old.

He's definitely a cultural phenomenon, who has brought the NBA back to China market. NBA.com says that Asian fans have flocked to watch him at viewing parties in China, at the Garden in New York, and opposing stadiums thus far.

"I think I would cheer for him if I was coming to a game," Chandler said. "He's the feel-good story. He gets the same thing from his teammates. You want to see a guy like him succeed."

How long Lin's run will continue for is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain: New York can't get enough of Lin-sanity ... for now.