I’m comfortable saying, “Oh, yeah, that’s Linsanity.” That shows you where I am with it.
At first, I thought, I would never do anything around Linsanity. I don’t want to make a documentary or anything like that or go back in time.
But then I was like, I have no problem with it. I really enjoyed it because it was a special moment and also because we need to talk about it right now. Linsanity has become so much more important and valuable to me.
You just mentioned that we need to talk about this. Why so?
It was a very special moment for Asian Americans and minorities. That’s because there are so few such moments. That’s because, in general, society doesn’t usually celebrate those moments. And because we don’t see that kind of success from people without looks.
What is the biggest misconception about that period of your life?
The way I left New York and the attacks on my character. I don’t mind being criticized for my game. Or if I look a certain way. If I play a certain way or whatever. But when you talk about my character, it’s different for me personally.
My recollection is that the vast majority of fans are not upset with you for joining the Rockets. They get upset with the Knicks for not keeping you.
Yes and no. Sure a lot of people were upset with me, but the first story told was that I went to the Rockets to ask for more money and that I was deliberately putting New York in a difficult position. It’s the story that revolves around me and is called, like, you know, certain things or the pursuit of money.
The real story is, I actually went to my agent and said to him, “Can we go back to the Rockets and ask for a less lucrative offer? Because I really want to go back to New York, and I really want to go back to New York. And I don’t want a poison pill.” That’s a true story. But that’s not the story thrown out there.
