NEW YORK –– Linsanity in Italy?
It almost happened.
Jeremy Linsaid he considered signing with Italian club Banca Tercas Teramo just before the NBA lockout ended in late November.
“I was close. I was extremely close,” Lin said after putting up 19 points, 13 assists and one turnover in the Knicks’ 120-103 come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I actually booked a flight to go back to California so I could get my visa done and everything so I could go to Italy.
“But then the team signed [former Hofstra star] Charles Jenkins and they rescinded the deal and then I found out that they offered it to him. I think it was him, so then I was like, ‘Ok, no more Italy.’ And then the lockout ended a couple days later so it was perfect.”
Lucky for the Knicks.
Lin remained in the U.S. and was waived by both the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets before the Knicks picked him up Dec. 27.
Now they are 10-3 since Linsanity began Feb 4.