Jeremy Lin returns to Oracle Arena tonight on NBATV

Jeremy Lin is returning to Oracle Arena tonight, but it will be as a Knick. The former Warrior was claimed off waivers by New York on Tuesday and confirmed he will be on the visiting sideline for the first time Wednesday. The Palo Alto native had something of a cult following since signing with the Warriors in October 2010. The second-year guard out of Harvard said his return to Oracle will be emotional. “I’m so thankful for the Warriors fans, I have no way I can even express it,” Lin said.

December has been a long, difficult month for Lin. The second-year guard was pulled from the first day of Warriors training camp Dec. 9 and told he was being waived. Golden State did it to create salary cap space for an offer to Los Angeles Clippers restricted free-agent center DeAndre Jordan.

The Warriors’ offer was matched by the Clippers, meaning Golden State gave up Lin for nothing. But he said he remains in good spirits and is taking a positive approach. “That’s what I’m understanding through all this — it’s a business,” Lin said in a phone interview. “It was a calculated business decision they made to benefit the team. I have no hard feelings.”

After being waived by the Warriors, Lin was picked up by Houston. But on Christmas Day, the Rockets waived Lin, making him available for the Knicks to grab. So Tuesday night, Lin joined his third team in less than three weeks. “God is teaching me to control what I can control and be thankful for what I have,” Lin said. “Everything I expected coming into the season has been flipped upside down.”

Golden State was not able to claim Lin off waivers per league rules. A team source did say the Warriors would have signed Lin if he had cleared waivers. But the Knicks are in need of a guard after Iman Shumpert sprained his right knee Christmas Day.

“I’m thankful that people want me,” Lin said. “I understand my position: I’m competing for a backup spot, and people see me as the 12th to 15th guy on the roster. It’s a numbers game.”

via Golden State Warriors notebook: Stephen Curry misses practice with bad ankle – San Jose Mercury News.