“Sometimes smart people who get in this system can be the dumbest people in the world” – B-Scott on why Lin couldn’t replicate success with Knicks on the Lakers originally appeared on Basketball Network.
After the furor of Linsanity died down, Jeremy Lin found himself trying to establish himself as more than just lightning in a bottle, as a true court general whom teams could rely on to lead them to victory.
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And while, for the most part, he proved that during his two-year stint with the Houston Rockets, which he helped lead to consecutive postseason appearances, he gained a fresh start when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2014. Playing under the bright lights and the backdrop of Hollywood, Lin looked forward to his backcourt partnership with the team’s undisputed superstar, Kobe Bryant.
However, Jeremy quickly understood that his talent alone would amount to little without the right coach and a supportive system that would maximize it.
Like trying to fit a circle into a square peg
Under the guidance of head coach Byron Scott, the Lakers adopted a deliberate offensive strategy focused on scoring inside the three-point line. Scott emphasized to his players that he preferred a measured approach to long-range shots, setting a target of 10 to 15 three-point attempts per game.
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More than anything, he emphasized that Kobe would dictate the offense. This proclamation put Jeremy in a bind, as his best days in New York and Houston came when he controlled the ball and was given the leeway to make decisions in a pick-and-roll setting, things Byron avoided.
“J-Lin is used to having the ball 90 percent of the time, and in my system, you just don’t do that,” he stressed. “He’s had some moments where he’s been terrific. But sometimes smart people who get in this system can be the dumbest people in the world.”
Lin’s lone season in Tinseltown was less than ideal. Stuck between trying to play the role of court general and deferring to Kobe, he averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists per game as the Lakers spiraled to a 21-61 record, the worst mark in franchise history since they moved to Los Angeles.
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Lin hit a low point
It was a rough season for Lin, one that saw him consistently get chewed out by Bryant for his inconsistent play. However, the lowest point came on January 23, 2013, when the Lakers traveled to San Antonio to play the Spurs. After playing in the Lakers’ first 43 games of the season, Jeremy was nailed to the bench and wasn’t played a single second.
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“The low point,” Lin declared. “For sure.”
“It just felt like I went full circle,” he explained. “The last time I got a straight-up DNP was that first month I got signed three years ago. I wasn’t playing. And then all of a sudden I’m a starter, and then a bunch of things happen.”
“And three years down the road, it’s like I’m back. At square one,” he continued. “Where I was before.”
Mike D’Antoni, Lin’s coach when he was still a Knick, surmised that as terrific a lead guard the latter is, Scott’s system didn’t mesh with his skills as aptly as it might have.
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“I think Jeremy can fit anywhere as a player,” D’Antoni stated. “He’s that good. But he’s not Linsanity if you put him just anywhere. If you close the floor on him, he’s going to look mediocre.”
As forgettable as Lin’s season with the Lakers was, he bounced back the following season during his stint with the Charlotte Hornets. Playing as the sixth man in Steve Clifford’s uptempo offense, he found his groove and averaged 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and finished seventh in the race for the Sixth Man of the Year award. The development proved that a player’s skill and talent are just half of the equation, the other half being a system that complements their strengths and allows them to thrive.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.