Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- Jeremy Lin , the undrafted Cinderella of the last NBA season , got peppered with questions by adoring fans and children in Hong Kong . What 's it like seeing your name on a jersey ? In short : `` Weird . '' Did your parents want you to be a lawyer or doctor ? No . Can you speak Mandarin ? Some . What 's your favorite Lin pun ? `` Super Lintendo . '' When the new Houston Rockets point guard returns to the basketball court in October , he not only faces the pressure of turning around a struggling franchise , but the expectations of the Asian diaspora who have elevated him to near folk hero status . His improbable run in February from a no-name , Ivy-graduate benchwarmer to a starting point guard rejuvenated the Knicks , dominated sports magazines and endeared him to fans in Asia . The Asian-American NBA star arrived in Hong Kong this week , after stops in Taiwan and China . `` The reception has been far beyond what I imaged , '' Lin said , about his Asia trip . `` I 'm grateful they support me and care . '' Fans flocked into a Hong Kong mall with books , posters and his old New York Knicks Jersey . Some even dressed in Harvard Unversity shirts . Lin , who turned 24 on Thursday , looked at times sheepish by the outpouring of attention showered on him . On Thursday , he tweeted : . Lin appeared in a kick-off ceremony for an initiative , called New World Springboard that is designed to provide underprivileged kids with opportunities to sports and mentorship . The kids asked him questions like how he juggled his studies and basketball when he was a student . They cheered when he spoke haltingly in Mandarin . When asked about how he overcame challenges , Lin repeatedly spoke of his faith . `` I think God has blessed me with unbelievable opportunity , the way he put everything together , the situation , I think it was a perfect storm . God is the first person I 'm going to attribute things to , '' he said . When asked the question about nationality -- whether he considered himself Chinese , Taiwanese or American , Lin replied : `` My identity is in Christ . '' He also fielded questions about being Asian in the NBA and getting through stereotypes . `` I 'm naturally stubborn and hard headed , '' he told the audience . `` Do n't let people tell you what you ca n't and can do . People try to say you ca n't do this , you ca n't do that . Continue to chase what you love doing , work hard at it . '' Lin signed a three-year $ 25.1 million contract with the Houston Rockets in July after the New York Knicks decided not to match the offer . He will now play for the former team of Chinese center , Yao Ming . How does he handle the inevitable comparisons ? Lin described Yao , who is retired , as a `` Hall of Famer , All Star and global ambassador for the game . '' `` What I 've done ca n't be compared to what he 's done , '' Lin said . `` We both want to play the right way , inspire kids and grow the game . '' `` Linsanity '' fans staked out hours before the event . Ryan Cheng , 20 , said he came out because `` there are not a lot of Asian persons in the NBA . '' `` He 's a true underdog story , '' the college student added . His pal , Vincent Choi , standing beside him chimed in : `` He 's like a made-for-TV movie . ''
Jeremy Lin is on an Asia tour and stopped in Hong Kong . Lin spoke to hundreds of kids about his NBA career and upbringing . He faces great expectations after signing with Houston Rockets .