 Within three weeks of his first game as a starter , at least seven e @-@ books were being published on Lin , and the Global Language Monitor declared that Linsanity had met its criteria to be considered an English @-@ language word . He appeared on a second consecutive Sports Illustrated cover , the first New York @-@ based team athlete and the third NBA player in the magazine 's history , after Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki . New York City restaurants introduced new food and bar items in honor of Lin . The city has about 450 @,@ 000 residents of Chinese or Taiwanese descent — larger than the entire populations of NBA cities like Miami , Atlanta or Cleveland — and viewing parties to watch Lin play flourished in Manhattan 's Chinatown . An airline advertised " <unk> low prices " , bids for his rookie card exceeded $ 21 @,@ 000 on eBay , and the press circulated rumors — denied by Lin — that he was dating Kim Kardashian . Foreign Policy speculated on his potential impact on Sino @-@ American relations , and Jack and Suzy Welch wrote that Lin 's rise was a lesson to business leaders to not let bureaucracy stifle unproven talent . Despite Lin 's sudden fame Sacramento Kings coach Keith Smart stated , " I knew [ Lin ] before he was <unk> . He 's still the same humble guy . The guy has not changed a bit , which is real special for a young man . " 
