Jeremy Lin Talks LA Lakers Demotion: 'It's Discouraging... Disappointing'

Jeremy Lin of the Los Angeles Lakers vents out his frustration over missing one game and his frequent bench duties.

On January 23, the point guard was on DNP (Did Not Play) under the orders of Lakers coach Byron Scott. It was the first time since his time as a New York Knick to skip a game due to a coach's decision. The Lakers lost against the San Antonio Spurs that night, based on a Mercury News report.

On January 25 against the Houston Rockets, Lin came off the bench, scoring 14 points while shooting 2-of-9 from the field. He made 10 of 14 free throws, which helped his case. He also added six assists but had three turnovers in 28 minutes of game time.

Rookie Jordan Clarkson was given the starting position by coach Scott, with the intention of hastening his development. Scott also preferred Ronnie Price over Lin.

In the same Mercury News report, Lin approached Scott before the game against the Spurs to talk about the coach's plans for the team and how the point guard's demotion bothered him a lot.

Lin said before the Rockets game at Staples Center, "I'm human. I got emotions. I show up and do my best to play and work hard. But it definitely hurts. It's discouraging sometimes and disappointing. All of those emotions, of course. I don't think anybody would feel great after a DNP, no matter who you are."

Rant Sports wrote that the Lakers should now unleash Jeremy Lin, especially after they lost Kobe Bryant due to a shoulder injury. The Lakers only have 12 wins in the season with 37 more games to play. At this point, the Lakers have nothing to lose but attempt to bring out "Linsanity" once more. Lin should be given the opportunity to run the game and control the pace of the team. He is a ball-dominant player who can be very effective when given the independence to make decisions and create plays.

He can be aggressive but becomes inconsistent when paired with other ball-dominant players like Carmelo Anthony during his time with the Knicks, James Harden with the Rockets, and currently Bryant with the Lakers. USA Today reported that Lin has been better than Clarkson and Price. He also increased his shooting range while reducing his turnover rate. Allowing him to control the pace might open opportunities for other Lakers like Ed Davis, Jordan Hill and Tarik Black.

Coach Scott said, "I watch and see how the game is going. I have a good idea of what I'm going to do. But I let the game dictate that."