When an NBA great like Michael Jordan gives praise to a specific person, then that person he is singling out has done something out of the ordinary to impress his Airness.
In this case, the player in mention is one of the new faces over at the Charlotte Hornets, Jeremy Lin.
Lin dazzled for the Hornets when the team played the Los Angeles Clippers in China. The popularity of Lin is of course expected but it was his performance that put a smile on the face of the Hornets team owner.
"We just got Jeremy Lin, who I think is going to be our biggest acquisition. His penetration, his shooting capability, his point guard savvy, he can really pass the basketball, his energy about the game of basketball is something," Jordan said.
Of course, the game was just a preseason matchup meaning that the game changes once the regular NBA season wars kick off by the end of this month. So will it all change for Lin?
Lin is entering the 2015-16 NBA season with something to prove. His self-confidence has of course taken a big hit after his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers and now the Asian-American player is seeking redemption as far as his career is concerned.
He was one of the surprise players who was suddenly sought during the last NBA Free Agency period, drawing interest from several teams like the defending champion Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and even his former teams – The New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.
Lin was taking a lot of heat for his previously rich contract that he signed with the Houston Rockets and many felt that for him to continue playing in the NBA, a big pay cut would be needed. Lin eventually settled for a $4.3 million two-year contract and it seems he is pretty much fine with it.
He is expected to come off the bench with Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum likely to start at the backcourt. However a sudden insertion as the point or shooting guard position could happen with the unfortunate injury of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
With Kidd-Gilchrist out, Batum could be moved to the small forward spot, allowing Walker and Lin to play together.
Whatever happens, Lin will be a big help for the Charlotte Hornets campaign this coming season.
The question now is on whether he will be able to provide that missing boost for the Hornets as they try to improve on their 11th place finish in the 2014-15 NBA wars.