Jeremy Lin, NBA hopeful, postgame: “I’m a playmaker and I care and contribute to winning”

Smailagic update; Santa Cruz Warriors eliminated

Here are notes & quotes from Kris Weems and Jeremy Lin postgame after the Santa Cruz Warriors were eliminated from the G League Bubble playoffs by the Lakeland Magic.

Please check our YouTube channel for additional videos; the one at the top of this article is clickable. The update on Alen Smailagic should be up by tomorrow.

If you’re into seeing guys live as the Zoom calls happen, be sure to follow us on Instagram and turn on notifications. Here’s the video including comments when we went live on-the-spot with Lin (we also did this with Stephen Curry after the All-Star Game):

Please note: Obviously my notes weren’t as good while I was filming the IG Live!

And if you’re into seeing the notes as they happen on our Discord server, you can signup for $1/month through my Patreon, although the better value is probably just signing up as a subscriber on this website for $5/mo and getting access to the Discord as part of that subscription for free (let me know in the comments if you’re going that route).

Due to the popularity of Lin, this piece is for subscribers only, but then will be made free 24 hours from the publish date (Wed 3/9 at 11:11PM).

Also, a funny thing happened while I was uploading the Lin video, which then caused a chain reaction resulting in this article being delayed by a couple hours: Festus Ezeli invited me onto his Instagram Live! More details on this later, though…

WEEMS:

? - recap question (I was setting up the Zoom, oops!)

Rashad - bubble experience: Zooms, game plan discipline, playing for each other, got to know Taylor and Reece better…“full circle” with Jeremy Lin (Weems coached at Menlo)…asst Mike Lee on assignment in Australia.

Rashad - using a calendar: “I still don't know what day it is…they call me OG…I would be using a paper calendar.”

Santiago - takeaway: “seeing the growth of the players…Smailagic had been hurt…game by game he got better…learning to be a professional…started out 1-3…it's not I it's we…just us (not only at GSW).”

Jim - recap: didn't play well first half, didn't okay as well as vs RGV, inbound turnover, burned two timeouts.

Christos - proud of resiliency, Smiley: “instill some core values…not really gonna be about scoring for him…rebounding, getting blocks…all around game to be a contributor in the NBA…eat right…game plan…tough for a kid coming from Serbia.”

Me - Smiley minutes: “comfort level…he plays hard…you just expend your energy…tired (don't finish as well)…conditioning improved (since last season)…(eat right)…take that up three more notches.”

SCMP - Lin: “he's a connector…I've known him since he was 16-17 because he played with one of my best players in AAU ball…professionalism goes a long way…taking care of his body…in the pool, I see him in the ice baths…picking his teammates up.”

Jim - Lin waist belt? “At 32…nobody's a hundred percent…his brain and his heart.”

Me - Menlo player who played with Jeremy: Blake Schultz Williams College

Me - what's next for Weems: “Lucky to be on the staff throughout training camp…Kerr has been tremendous to me…nice seeing Steph Oubre Wiggins.”

LIN:

Christos - experience: amazing, grateful

Rashad - what's next: “I'm not sure…see what's out there…CBA season and others are winding up.”

Rashad - other projects: multiple basketball schools over 10k ppl, signature shoe, foundations in US and China, Asian-Am issues

Jim - say to fans:  “thank you, I don't come in thinking I'm above anybody…blessing…ppl still paying attention.”

Jim - health: “I feel great rn.”

SMCP - CBA: “No 3pt Defensive…here tremendous athletes.”

SMCP - social justice: “it's tragic, it's heartbreaking…isn't only about the Asian-American experience…and caring and the first step is talking about it.”

Santiago - takeaway from bubble: “really proud of my team, my trainer of ten years…efficiency (haven't been able to do before)…types of shots…I got to show it…support system.”

Me - Smiley: “His nickname is very real…very funny…so much energy…ppl just like being around here…he came here with no ego.”

Christos - biggest progression: “more pace and control…doesn't matter what I think…it's not in my hands…on a team that was about the team.”

Jim - Toupane: “keep pulling stuff out, what else do you have in there.”

Rashad - contribute to NBA: “playmaker and I care and contribute to winning…both ends of the floor, I don't really wanna get into it coming off of a loss.”

LEGEND:

Jim = Jim Siemas, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Rashad = Rashad Miller, @theuncoolurban

Christos = Christos Tsalkas (SDNA Greece)

Santiago = Nico Santiago, City On A Hill Press (UC Santa Cruz)

SCMP = Patrick Blennerhassett, South China Morning Post

/fin