Jeremy Lin is heading back to where it all started. The Knicks made the Finals for the first time since 1999, and the man behind Linsanity is going to be on the broadcast calling it.
ESPN announced that Lin is joining the network as a guest analyst for the duration of the NBA Finals. His debut comes Wednesday on “NBA Today” and “SportsCenter,” with more appearances likely as the series unfolds against the Spurs.
“I definitely have serious interest in trying to do this more and to do this long-term,” Lin told Danielle Lerner of USA Today. “I know that it’s truly special that they were willing to carve the space for me in the Finals.”
A Storybook Pairing
You could not script this better. The Knicks finally got back to the Finals on the back of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Lin’s 26 games of Linsanity in 2012 became one of the franchise’s most iconic moments. Now he gets to be in the building when New York chases its first title in 53 years.
Lin is not the first former player to use a Finals run as an audition. He has hosted his own podcasts and done occasional studio work, but ESPN giving him a Finals platform is a different level entirely.
The Broadcasting Lane Is Open
ESPN has been shuffling its NBA studio talent for two years. Some names have come and gone. Lin offers something different. He played both ends of the basketball world, from Harvard to undrafted to global icon to overseas to the Bay Area. He has stories most analysts cannot match.
Whether he can translate that into a long-term seat behind the desk depends on these next two weeks. The Finals are the biggest stage in basketball broadcasting outside of a Lakers Christmas Day game. If he is sharp and confident on camera, ESPN will figure out a permanent role.
Knicks Fans Get a Treat
Karl-Anthony Towns admitted earlier this year that he became a Knicks fan in part because of Linsanity. That is the level of cultural reach Lin still has in New York. Plenty of fans who flooded Madison Square Garden in February 2012 will tune in just to hear him talk about the team.
The Spurs are favored. Victor Wembanyama is the Defensive Player of the Year. The Knicks just won 11 straight playoff games by an average of 23.8 points. Brunson is playing some of the best basketball of any guard in the league.
Lin has a front row seat to all of it. If the Knicks win, the script writes itself. If they lose, he still gets to break down the series on the biggest sports network in the country.
What Comes Next
The smart bet here is that Lin parlays this into a regular role next season. The chemistry he has with younger broadcasters and the credibility he brings to international basketball coverage make him a unique fit. ESPN does not just hand out Finals analyst spots without a longer plan in mind.
For now, Lin gets to live a moment most former players would kill for. Tip-off is Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET from San Antonio.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
