
- The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 on Thursday night to win their first NBA championship in franchise history.
- While Kawhi Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP in a near-unanimous vote, on Twitter, fans instead celebrated NBA journeyman Jeremy Lin for getting his first championship ring.
- Lin's status in NBA mythos was already sealed forever thanks to his days in New York, but after Thursday, he's also a champion for life.
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 on Thursday night to win their first NBA championship in franchise history.
While Kawhi Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP in a near-unanimous vote, on Twitter, fans instead celebrated a player that barely took the court for the Raptors this postseason - Jeremy Lin.
After going undrafted in 2010, Lin briefly became an NBA sensation in 2012, when he became the unlikely hero of the New York Knicks and introduced the world to "Linsanity."
Since then, Lin has stayed in the league as a journeyman, spending time with the Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, and Hawks, before joining the Raptors bench in February 2019.
Lin played just 27 minutes this postseason for the Raptors, but when the final buzzer sounded on Thursday night, he became a champion. On Twitter, fans celebrated his success with praise, love, and some jokes at the expense of other players around the league.
Lin's status in NBA mythos was already sealed forever thanks to his days in New York, but after Thursday, he's also a champion for life.
- Read more from Tyler Lauletta:
Kawhi Leonard struggled to understand why his teammates weren't as good as him in college
Some said he'd never win a title.
Some said he was washed up.
But he kept grinding.
He kept going.
Now, Jeremy Lin is an NBA Champion. pic.twitter.com/eP2F0J6Wt5
- CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 14, 2019
INCASE YALL NEEDED PROOF pic.twitter.com/CGUI8qwxuA
- Gary Striewski (@garystriewski) June 14, 2019
Jeremy Lin won a NBA championship and that's all I care about right now pic.twitter.com/L9v24rtizc
- j. (@ilyunclout) June 14, 2019
Jeremy Lin got a ring before all of these guys pic.twitter.com/eeOmivO5Pz
- Griffin Lafayette (@LafayetteGriff) June 14, 2019
The real winner of the nba finals has to be jeremy lin. Man got paid 700k to sit court side and watch the nba finals #RaptorsvsWarriors pic.twitter.com/6Yojz07u55
- Gurjant Singh (@Kawhi_Szn) June 14, 2019
All I'm saying is the Raptors didn't win a championship until Jeremy Lin was on the team
- Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) June 14, 2019
Jeremy Lin won a ring before
Carmelo Anthony
James harden
Chris Paul
pic.twitter.com/7LIHdPcilJ
- Curry with the brick (@KazxKage) June 14, 2019
Someone already updated Jeremy Lin's wikipedia page. pic.twitter.com/cEPYpdelnf
- Big Enos Burdette (@therealbaber) June 14, 2019