The National Basketball Association has not had very many players come from the Ivy League in it’s history.

Maybe that’s why all 30 teams passed on Jeremy Lin, Harvard graduate, when he entered the NBA draft in 2010.

Harvard

Lin had to play in the 2010 NBA Summer League before he was offered a contract. Kevin Arnovitz wrote (via True Hoop):

“Jeremy Lin stole the show late in the stellar Dallas-Washington game. With the Mavs down a couple of possessions, Wall and JaVale McGee trapped Lin off a high ball screen. Lin split the defenders, darting left through the opening. Against the collapsing Washington defense, Lin then propelled 270 degrees in the air to get off a right-handed jumper against contact. The acrobatics roused the Cox Pavilion crowd, who almost rioted when Lin was whistled for a charge.”

At the conclusion of summer ball, he earned the interest of several squads.

On July 21, 2010, The San Jose Mercury News stated that Lin chose to play for the Golden State Warriors, his favorite team growing up, instead of taking the most lucrative offer. Lin lasted through his rookie year, but, despite having a Nike contract and being a fan favorite, The San Jose Mercury News reported in December 2011 that the Golden State Warriors were releasing Lin.

Lin was claimed by the Houston Rockets on Dec. 12. He was cut on Christmas Eve.

Basketball had a plan, though.

On February 4, 2012, without much of a point guard all season, the New York Knicks – who claimed Lin three days after Houston released him – turned to Lin, giving him 36 minutes against the New Jersey Nets. He gave them back 25 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 50+ field goal percentage, but most importantly, a win.

Since that night, Lin has started in all four games for the Knicks. And they have won every time.

Lin has added 28, 23, 38, and 20 points, respectively, in the four games. Those 38? Against the Los Angeles Lakers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he has scored more points in his first three NBA starts than anyone since the NBA/ABA merger.

Saturday in Minnesota, he was down to 39 seconds and seemed doomed to fail, his squad trailing 98-95. Star Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda’s tweeted, “[The] crowd would chant ‘overrated’ at Jeremy Lin.”

Lin quickly assisted the game-tying 3-pointer, making it 98-98.

Next, the opposing team’s player at his position, point guard Ricky Rubio, turned the ball over.

Now the Knicks’ ball, Lin made it to the free throw line with under 4 seconds left. He missed the first. He sank the second for the go-ahead score.

With one second in regulation remaining, Rubio again turned the ball over, preserving a 100-98 Knicks victory.