Jeremy Lin is in his first season with the Rockets after his sudden rise with the Knicks this time last season. His new home played host to the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, but the Houston point guard did not get an invite.
Lin participated in Saturday night’s skills challenge, though, and was content with just watching the game on Sunday.
“I’m kind of thankful I didn’t get voted because … I want to make sure I’m fully, fully deserving of it, when I play,” Lin told CSN Houston. “And I didn’t feel like that was the case this year.”
Lin is averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 55 games for the Rockets. Although he spent Sunday out with family and friends, only watching portions of the game, he was able to see backcourt mate James Harden appear in his first All-Star game. Lin received 883,809 All-Star votes this season, but is more focused on getting the Rockets into the postseason than All-Star selections.
“Coach keeps talking about it as a playoff push and how it’s going to fly right by,” the third-year pro said. “It’s all about seeding now and we have to make sure we’re in.”
Houston enters the second half of the season at 29-26 and hold the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
