Jeremy Lin: Dolan & Knicks Teammates Told Me Not To Rush Back in Playoffs

Knicks fans from all around are still distraught over the team's decision to not retain Jeremy Lin, allowing him to instead join the Houston Rockets.

That said, those fans attempting to convince themselves that Lin was in fact not worth his heft $25.1 million, three-year contract are using Lin's choice not to play in this past season's postseason as justification.

With so much at stake against the Miami Heat, many expected Lin to power through the pain, especially after self-proclaiming himself at 85% ready during the playoffs.

Apparently Knicks owner James Dolan and Lin's teammates were not in favor of the mass majority's mentality. 

Shortly after learning his fate, Lin spoke with Sports Illustrated, not only to express his preference to have continued donning orange and blue, but also to assert he was continuously discouraged from rushing back during the Knicks' first round playoff matchup. 

via SI.com

The last time Lin talked to Knicks owner James Dolan was right before Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when New York was down, 3-1, to eventual NBA champion Miami. Lin, who had suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, had been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and had already missed the first four games of this playoff series. Now Dolan, with point guard Baron Davis also injured, wondered about Lin's availability. But the matter had already been settled. "Every single vet on our team that has been in the league longer than five years pulled me aside and told me that I shouldn't play," Lin says. "And I had arguments with them about why I should."

Dolan -- who didn't talk to Lin often but had generally been "really nice to me" --wound up expressing support. "I have plans for you in the future," Lin recalls the owner saying. "This is a long-term investment. Don't rush back."

Given how much passion Knicks fans have for the Harvard graduate, it should be easy to believe he wanted to succeed in the Big Apple. Lin not only fed off The Garden's electricity and energy, but furthermore shared their hunger for something great in New York City.

He would have played if he could have. However, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert also both hurt, perhaps Lin's teammates had realized that the Knicks' chances of legitimately competing against the Heat were already dwindling. 

Regardless, it's time to move on from "Linsanity." The Knicks now have a point guard hungry for redemption in Raymond Felton, and another hungry for a second championship title in Jason Kidd. The team will be alright in their hands.