Shumpert: Lin’s ‘Linsanity’ Was Wild, Steph Curry’s Game Unpredictable

Shumpert Recalls ‘Linsanity’ Chaos, Praises Curry’s Unmatched Skill

The whirlwind era of ‘Linsanity’ that captivated the NBA nearly a decade ago was a period of unprecedented media frenzy, according to former Knicks and Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert. Speaking on ‘Club Shay Shay,’ Shumpert vividly recalled the overwhelming attention surrounding Jeremy Lin’s improbable rise, describing a locker room inundated with media, leaving players feeling exposed.

“Man had media hanging all in our locker room, man. We getting interviewed butt ass naked, dog,” Shumpert recounted, painting a picture of a chaotic scene. “I’m talking about this [expletive] was crazy. Like I ain’t even got time to all the way get right before they in there. Asian media stepping on your foot while you in the flipflops… they trying to get to Jay Le.”

The media circus extended to veteran players like Carmelo Anthony, who Shumpert suggested was less than thrilled with the constant attention, especially when it diverted from his own spotlight. “Melo don’t like talking on [expletive] media. But, and then, you know, look, I’m glad he and Kenyan made up Jeremy Lynn because Kenyan like, ‘You shouldn’t be wearing Dre. That’s not your style.'” Shumpert noted Kenyon Martin’s initial criticism of Lin’s dreadlocks, but expressed admiration for Martin later admitting he was wrong.

Controversy and Camaraderie in the League

While the dreadlocks incident, sparked by Kenyon Martin’s public disapproval, was a point of contention, Shumpert downplayed its significance. “I said, ‘It wasn’t that big a deal.’ You don’t think it was that big a deal?” he asked, before acknowledging Lin’s hair wasn’t exactly suited for dreads. “Jay Le know that [expletive] looked crazy. He just was TRYING SOME [expletive] OUT.” Shumpert appreciated Lin’s understated response on Instagram, which brought a smile to his face.

Beyond specific incidents, Shumpert emphasized the underlying respect and camaraderie among NBA players. “But we are all in this league fans of each other. Like you can’t get into it with a guy on the court, say you hate him, f him, f this, f that. But I’m talking about some really, really good human beings off the floor.” He described instances where players with on-court animosity would later reconcile during the offseason, showcasing a mature approach to the game.

Deconstructing the Elite: Kobe, Steph, Kyrie, and D-Rose

The conversation then shifted to the toughest players to guard during Shumpert’s career. He was presented with a formidable list: Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Derrick Rose.

“When I first got in the league, Kobe,” Shumpert admitted. “But if Kobe not playing for a championship is not as much to deal with. But it’s hard to play against somebody you know can shoot it. He can shoot whatever he want. He ain’t coming out.” However, Shumpert ultimately singled out Stephen Curry as the most challenging.

“Out of them Steph cuz I feel like I could slide with all of them,” Shumpert explained. “But Steph don’t really have a package. Like it’s not like James gonna go twin cross, twin cross, twin cross, and then it’s a variation of stepbacks. Kyrie might start his dribble this way, but he might be doing his breaks might be under the leg or behind the back, but it’s like a package. I kind of know and get familiar with their movements.”

Curry’s unique style presented a different kind of defensive puzzle. “Steph was one of the only guys that the moment I slid with him and start a little bit figuring out his handle it was like you pass run off two three screens push me now he wide open and it was like he not going to let me my gift doesn’t work with him like I have a gift I can slide I can do this with anybody like it’s hard you only get two arms you not going to cross me.” Shumpert described Curry’s seemingly boundless range and willingness to pull up from anywhere on the court, forcing defenders to stay hyper-alert.

“He’s like, ‘I’m not doing this with you.’ Okay, Sean. You could you could play D, Sean. Good job. Now, I’m going to go way back here. You going to play defense at the three-point line back here? I’m going to shoot it back here. And it was like I was looking like, ‘Dog, this man is really reckless.’ Like, he really shoot because he really… Yeah, yeah. He’ll come… that you got to pick up the half court. You literally the half from the half court on, he’s a legitimate threat.”

The Handle Debate: Kyrie vs. Steph

While acknowledging Kyrie Irving’s superior handle – “Kyrie’s handle is better. Yes, for sure. Kyrie got the best handles I’ve ever seen in the NBA” – Shumpert argued that Curry’s offensive genius lay in his off-ball movement and shooting prowess.

“But Kyrie’s using his handle,” Shumpert clarified. “Y’all have never seen Steph’s handle. Like he got a handle. Oh yeah, for sure. But it’s like he the moment he feel like, oh, you could play defense pretty good, he’s going to take it away from you. And that’s what people don’t get about him. I’m like, bro, he took they like why you wouldn’t guard Steph cuz it don’t matter for me to guard Steph. He’s not going to dribble against me. Like he crossed, he got by Delhi. You should have been guarding him. He’s not going to do that to me. That’s why he’s the MVP. He’s not going to do it.”

Shumpert also touched on Draymond Green’s role in disrupting offenses, recalling an incident where Green’s physicality may have led to an injury. “He just I ain’t saying you dirty, Dre, but you you did you the reason my shoulder got separated that first year. That’s all I’m saying.”

LeBron vs. Jordan: A Childhood Perspective

The discussion then turned to the perennial GOAT debate, with Shumpert firmly in the Michael Jordan camp, even when discussing LeBron James’s unparalleled career achievements.

“You told LeBron that Jordan is better than him,” Shannon Sharpe stated, to which Shumpert confirmed. “He laughed. He knew he knew I was going to say it though. Like he know that. He know that.” Shumpert elaborated on his reasoning, citing his upbringing as a Chicago kid and his preference for Jordan’s relentless scoring mentality.

“When I told him that. Yeah. What about it? You told LeBron that Jordan is better than him. What he What did he say? How’d he laugh? He laughed. He knew he knew I was going to say it though. Like he know that. He know that. Even though he is the great the great one. He know. One, I’m a Chicago kid. You know what I’m saying? two, I am I how LeBron at the end of the game can pass to somebody. If it was my team, I wouldn’t do that. I would take that shot because I’m going to take the DNA of Mike. That’s what I grew up watching. That’s the way I like the game played. So, it’s like to see Braun defer sometimes and do certain stuff. That’s why I put him over. Plus, it’s like Mike never lost in a championship. So, I was like, that’s why.”

He emphasized Jordan’s undefeated record in the NBA Finals as a key factor. “But it’s like, as far as breaking records and accolades and all the rest of this [expletive] it’s like, dog, I I’ve been giving Braun his props. It’s just how you going to do that to me? How you going to tell my childhood self I’m wrong?” Shumpert humorously illustrated his point by referencing Jordan’s clutch performances in crucial moments, suggesting Jordan was a savior figure for him during his youth.

Future Aspirations and Fatherhood

Looking ahead, Shumpert shared his aspirations beyond basketball. He envisions a future where he’s a father to a larger family, potentially with daughters playing at a high level, and perhaps even hosting his own segment on ESPN.

“Married. I should be three more kids,” Shumpert stated when asked about his life in 2035. “I don’t know, man. By then I should be, you know, hopefully I can get my own segment on ESPN calling this stuff Gro Shump Street a little bit bigger. Um, but I should be really just be like taking flights to go see my daughters. Like Junior should be hooping somewhere by then. You know what I mean? By then it should be like… She might be headed to the WNBA. She might be a one and done.”

The conversation concluded with a lighthearted urgency as Shumpert mentioned needing to catch a flight to watch his daughter’s game, highlighting the ongoing balance between his post-playing career endeavors and his commitment to his family.

Source: Iman Shumpert On Jeremy Lin’s Dreadlocks Controversy & Kenyon Martin’s Criticism I CLUB SHAY SHAY (YouTube)