Jeremy Lin rumors: Class act in and out of the court

Jeremy Lin has moved on and, apparently, he has been showing everyone what they have been missing.

The Charlotte Hornets guard has been turning out to be a fine acquisition, thriving on the system of head coach Steve Clifford. Although relegated to a bench role, Lin has been given the opportunity to start when needed. Either way, he has responded magnificently.

Everyone knows the rough times he had with the Los Angeles Lakers, failing to appease Lakers head coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant. He had more criticism than praise which gave him more than enough reason to get back at the Lakers when they faced-off recently.

But instead, Lin just treated that matchup like any other National Basketball Association (NBA) game and even had kind words to the retirement-bound Bryant.

"I told him during the game, 'Man, I'm happy for you. I hope you're at peace because you deserve what you're getting,'" Lin said via the Los Angeles Times.

From someone who got a hard foul from a former teammate and someone he never got to get along with, such adds another class act on the part of the former Harvard University stand out. Watch the video.

Just the same, Lin understands that this is the NBA and he needs to get used to hard fouls coming his way.

Either way, Lin has all the right to flash a smile these days. His talent has been put to good use and such is showing for the Hornets.

Unlike the Lakers, the Hornets have a chance to make the NBA playoffs. He has resurrected "Linsanity" (in a way) and has been drawing more praises than criticism compared to his time with the Lakers.

For now, however, Lin could be seeing less due to a reported ankle injury.

He joins a list of Hornet players dealing with injury, though such is unlikely to keep him from returning this season and help out increase the odds of a possible post season berth.