( CNN ) -- Jeremy Lin , who brought `` Linsanity '' into the lexicon when he came off the bench and led the New York Knicks to a string of wins , suffered a knee injury and will be out about six weeks , the team said Saturday . The injury could sideline the guard , 23 , for the rest of the season . An MRI revealed a small chronic meniscus tear in Lin 's left knee , the Knicks said on their Twitter page . The unlikely star of Taiwanese descent and Harvard degree quickly turned into a global brand , but the team has cooled off somewhat since he rose to prominence . Lin noticed the injury about a week ago , but he told reporters it had not gotten better by Saturday . `` I ca n't really do much , ca n't really cut or jump , so it 's pretty clear I ca n't help the team unless I get it fixed right now , '' said Lin . Lin , who averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 assists per game , said he will undergo surgery early next week . Rehabilitation will take about six weeks , he said . Lin burst onto the basketball scene in early February when then-Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni called him off the bench as the Knicks struggled against the New Jersey Nets . Lin responded with 25 points , leading the Knicks to victory . A seven-game winning streak , including a victory over All-Star Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers , followed , with Lin coming up with clutch plays to lead the way . `` The season has had a lot of downs and a lot of ups , '' Lin said Saturday . `` As a team we 're doing OK and will be just fine . Obviously , it 's been a very emotional year . ''
NEW : It 's been an emotional day , Lin says . But Lin will need knee surgery . He should be out about two weeks . He got on a hot streak earlier this year .