Jeremy Lin is the World’s Fastest Growing Athlete Brand

Published: 13th Feb 12 4:02 pm
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Marian Hinton
Texas Sports Blogger
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Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Ever since Jeremy Lin took the floor as a starter for the New York Knicks 5 games ago, Linsanity has swept the sports world.

Though virtually an afterthought earlier this season, Lin is playing his way into the hearts of basketball fans all over the world.

It’s the perfect story, and we all know that sports fans are suckers for this type of thing. Unrecruited out of high school and undrafted out of Harvard, Lin has become one of the most popular athletes in sports today.

In his 5 starts, the Knicks are on a 5-0 run, their longest winning streak this season. During that time, Lin has averaged 27 points and 8 rebounds per game, including a 38 point night as Lin led the Knicks over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

However, Linsanity isn’t just spreading to sports fans, it’s reaching the business side of sport as well.

Earlier today, Forbes magazine reported that Jeremy Lin, the brand, is now worth $14 million, which makes him the fastest growing athletic brand in the world. That ties him with Kobe Bryant as the world’s 6th most valuable sports brand.

In addition, Madison Sqaure Garden, Co., the parent company of the New York Knicks, has also benefitted from the rise in Lin’s popularity.

The ratings for Knick’s games have increased by 36% since Lin has been starting.

Since February 4, the night before Lin’s first start, stock in the company has increased by 6%; to put that into perspective, in that same time frame, the S&P 500 has only seen a rise of 1 percent. Today, MSG stock is at a record high, again, thanks to Lin.

It’s rare that an athlete can capture the hearts of the public so quickly (Tim Tebow aside, of course); after all, Lin’s started just five games in his entire professional career.

But America loves a winner, especially those who do it against all odds.

For Lin, this is only the beginning.

 

 

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