Note: Below is an article from the San Jose Mercury News about Omar Samhan, who went to St. Mary's college in Moraga and Jeremy Lin, an asian-american who played basketball at Harvard. Both are trying to make it to the NBA. They are currently playing in the NBA summer league trying to get a spot on a team later this fall.
By Mark Emmons
LAS VEGAS — Former Saint Mary's star Omar Samhan was holding court after a summer league game, regaling reporters with what he has to overcome to play in the NBA.
"Obviously I'm a slow, white guy," Samhan said. "I'm not athletic. I won't get as many chances as guys who can jump out of the gym."
A few feet away, former Palo Alto High star Jeremy Lin was speaking quietly in front a circle of cameras about the obstacles he faces to reach his NBA dream.
"Being an Asian and being from Harvard, I'll need to go two or three times beyond what other guys have to do to prove myself," Lin said. "Those can be disadvantages."
Samhan and Lin are two Bay Area guys who played against each other in high school and often crossed paths in summer ball. Now they are teammates on the Dallas Mavericks' summer league squad as they try to earn an invitation to training camp.
Both just completed stellar college careers. Samhan, the fun-loving 6-foot-11 center, was a darling of the NCAA Tournament last spring as he led the surprising Gaels to a Sweet 16 berth. Lin left Harvard as one of the best players in Ivy League history as he shattered stereotypes that Asian-Americans can't play high-level basketball.
Yet each one also was ignored in last month's draft. They will have to scratch and claw their way into the NBA.
"We're in very similar situations," Lin said. "We did a lot in college, and he certainly has a more impressive résumé than I do. But we're both trying to do the same thing."
They're giving it their best shot against long odds.
Samhan was the happy-go-lucky jester of the NCAA Tournament. He dominated on the court as Saint Mary's upset Richmond and Villanova. And he was a star at news conferences, cracking one-liners and pronouncing his love for country star Taylor Swift as he urged her to call him.
He earned his moment in the spotlight. Samhan had lost 60 pounds since his senior year at San Ramon Valley High and last season became the first player to lead the West Coast Conference in scoring (21.3), rebounding (10.9) and blocked shots (2.9) since USF's Bill Cartwright in 1978-79.
The good times came to an end with a loss to Baylor, and reality set in when he was shocked to go undrafted.
"My friends and family were more upset about it than I was afterward," he said. "But within hours of the draft, (Dallas owner) Mark Cuban called and said, 'Hey, why don't you come play with us?' "
Actually, technology baron Cuban hooked up with Samhan on Facebook. And Samhan told a Las Vegas newspaper: "Cube's my boy. He's as crazy as me."
But other teams, during pre-draft workouts, grilled Samhan to make sure there was a serious player beneath the entertaining personality.
"I got asked about Taylor Swift all the time," he said. "And I had to say, 'Come on, guys, I was just having some fun. I said stuff like that because I know reporters like to write it and people like to read it.' "
He's all business at the summer league, where every player desperately is trying to shine.
"Other people obviously don't think I'm as good as I think I am — and you better believe that I think I'm really good," Samhan said. "So I have a chip on my shoulder. But I know that if I don't play well, I'll be in Europe before tomorrow."
Lin, soft-spoken and reserved, couldn't be more different from Samhan. The 6-3 guard was stunned by the swarm of media wanting to interview him.
But the questions — about the rarity of Asian-American players and how he has become a role model — were familiar ones. In the past year, Lin's story has been told everywhere from the pages of Sports Illustrated to National Public Radio.
His basketball-crazy father Gie-Ming, a computer engineer who emigrated from Taiwan in the 1970s, passed along his love for the game to his son. And, despite leading Palo Alto to a state title, Lin was overlooked by Division I colleges — he believes in part because of his ethnicity — and attended Harvard.
He was an immediate star, despite hearing racist slurs in opposing arenas, and as a senior averaged 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals a game.
Although proud of his heritage, Lin grew weary of talking about his background.
"Everybody just wants to talk about how I'm an Asian-American and how that is different," he said. "After awhile, it was the just the same story being repeated."
Lin graduated in May with a degree in economics. But unlike his Harvard classmates, he didn't apply for Wall Street jobs or graduate school.
"I didn't look at anything but basketball, because I knew that's what I wanted to do," Lin said. "I'm going to be a basketball player for awhile. Obviously my goal is to be in the NBA. But if not, I'll go somewhere else to play."
His long-term future is more certain. He's interested in becoming a minister.
"I was raised as a Christian," Lin said "That's my identity, first and foremost, even more than being Asian-American or a basketball player. I've been blessed by God to be in this situation. I just have a passion for ministry and helping out with underprivileged communities."
Lin is a good athlete. But now he's up against great athletes. Samhan can relate.
But both are hoping their skills get them noticed.
"It's funny how our paths keep crossing," Samhan said.
And they hope they cross again — in the NBA.
