Jeremy Lin Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Jeremy Lin ’10’s life-changing string of seven days came to a close today with yet another honor, when he was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

After averaging 27.3 points and 8.3 assists in his four sensational games as a starter—while leading the previously-lowly Knicks to a 4-0 record—Lin became a national phenomenon and one of the biggest sports stories of the year overnight.

The Harvard alum’s 109 points over those four games were the most scored by any NBA player in his first four starts since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976. Lin also became the first player in NBA history to score at least 20 points with seven assists in each of his first four starts, and the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 25 points and eight assists over a five-game span.

In doing so, his game was praised by three of the best point guards of all time—Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, and Jerry West—while a number of celebrities and national media outlets took an interest in Lin’s compelling story, especially after he outdueled Kobe Bryant to the tune of 38 points on national television Friday night.

With the honor, Lin becomes the first player in NBA history to win Player of the Week awards in both the NBA and the NBA Development League, where he won the award while a member of the Reno Bighorns last season.

Lin is the first Knick to receive the NBA honor this year. Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook won the Western Conference award.

Lin, who will next be in action tomorrow night against the Raptors, was yesterday named the ABC News “Person of the Week” as well.