By Sam Perley, hornets.com
While Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls marks the end of Charlotte’s four-game homestand, it will be the start of something else as the Chinese New Year will officially begin on February 8, 2016. As the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA, Hornets guard Jeremy Lin is happy to see a bit of his culture continuing to be commemorated by the NBA.
Chinese New Year is an annual celebration of the lunisolar Chinese calendar that generally runs from the evening prior to the first day until the Lunar Festival, which takes place on the 15th calendar day of the first month. This centuries-old tradition is commemorated by family gatherings, dancing, fireworks and the giving of red envelopes, the latter of which is a monetary gift given during special occasions in Chinese culture.
“It’s definitely a big holiday,” said Lin. “You celebrate for almost a week. It’s a big time [for] family. I think the biggest thing is the Zodiac - understanding which animals and which year it is. It’s just a big part of our culture.”
The NBA’s increased involvement in the Chinese New Year has also been well received by Lin.
“It feels good. Obviously, me kind of being the only representation of any Asian player [along with Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers who is Filipino-American], it’s nice to see them recognize that and hopefully it gets bigger. We have one day [right now] and a couple teams wearing a jersey here or there so hopefully we can continue to grow it,” added Lin.
The designated zodiac for each Chinese New Year rotates on a 12-year basis. This coming Chinese New Year will be the year of the Monkey for the first time since 2004. Individuals born this year are said to be blessed with the attribute of “changeability” with the saying that “changeability without being constant leads to foolishness.”
Breaking down the Hornets roster, the year of the Dragon (Nicolas Batum, Spencer Hawes and Lin), the year of the Monkey (P.J. Hairston, Jeremy Lamb and Cody Zeller), the year of the Ox (Tyler Hansbrough and Brian Roberts) and the year of the Rooster (Frank Kaminsky and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) are the most prominently represented Chinese zodiac symbols on the team. The dragon is associated with strength, the ox is affiliated with the attribute of industriousness and the rooster is known for its consistency.
Last season, the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors honored their large international fan bases by became the first NBA teams to ever wear special Chinese New Year uniforms. The Rockets have long had a strong contingent of fans within the Asian community after drafting Chinese basketball superstar, Yao Ming, in 2002. As for the Warriors, their home games are played just outside San Francisco, which is home to the largest Chinese population outside of Asia.
Another element of the NBA’s Chinese New Year activation is the broadcasting of 51 live NBA games on local media outlets in China throughout early February, including the last three home games for the Hornets. Monday’s matchup against the Bulls will also feature Chinese-American singer, Lynn Lee, performing the national anthem and a halftime presentation by local Chinese heritage group, Peaceful Dragon.
Although Charlotte wasn’t selected by the NBA to wear customized Chinese New Year uniforms this year (teams were determined prior to Lin signing with the Hornets last July), the Hornets guard is still hoping to suit up with a bit of cultural flare against the Bulls on Monday night.
“For me last year, I couldn’t wear my [Chinese New Year] shoes to celebrate because I didn’t have a game on Chinese New Year. Hopefully I’ll be able to rock some more stuff [this year],” said Lin.
While the Chinese New Year will certainly mark a new beginning for many, fans will hope Lin continues to shine in his first season in Charlotte as the Hornets gear up for a late-season playoff push.
Key Matchup vs. Bulls: Cody Zeller vs. Pau Gasol
Cody Zeller and the Hornets will look to end their four-game homestand with a win when they welcome Pau Gasol and the Chicago Bulls to Charlotte on Monday night… Since returning from a shoulder injury on Feb. 3, Zeller has looked solid with averages of 7.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his last three games… Charlotte’s third-year center should be in for a battle when he posts up against the ageless Spaniard, Pau Gasol… At 35-years-old, Gasol continues his mastery of low-post play with averages of 16.9 points and team highs in both rebounding (10.9) and blocks (2.0), the latter of which is ranked fifth overall in the NBA… Limiting Gasol’s rebounding and second-chance scoring will be key if Zeller and the Hornets want to emerge victorious and claim the season series against the visiting Bulls.
Key Matchup vs. Pacers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vs. Paul George
The Hornets will need another strong performance from top defender Michael Kidd-Gilchrist when they close out their pre-All-Star-Break schedule with a road game against Paul George and the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night… Since returning from shoulder surgery on Jan. 29, Kidd-Gilchrist has tallied impressive averages of 12.2 points on 53.5 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists over his last five games… Kidd-Gilchrist will have a tough task at hand as he’ll likely be matched up against former Fresno State Bulldog, Paul George… After missing the majority of the 2014-15 season with a broken leg, George has bounced back to earn his third career All-Star nomination by averaging team highs in scoring (23.4 points), rebounds (7.1) and steals (1.9) for the Pacers this year… Kidd-Gilchrist’s containment of the explosive George could be a major deciding factor in whether or not the Hornets can enter the All-Star Break following a victory in Indiana.