CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 11, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Three and a half years ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Jeremy Lin was the most talked about athlete in the world.  Lin’s shooting star of a winter breaking into the starting lineup of the New York Knicks was one of the more surreal stories in recent sports history.  After being considered to be a backup fringe player, Lin entered the starting lineup and Linsanity was born.  The only thing that’s really comparable to Linsanity is Cardale Jones’ improbable efforts as a third string quarterback leading Ohio State to the National Championship.

It seems like forever and a day ago because after that brief period where Lin was in the category of LeBron James and Tom Brady because of his relatively anonymous post-Knicks career.

Lin has been a solid pro, but he’s become something of an NBA journeyman.  After two years with the Houston Rockets where he moved from the starting lineup back to the bench, he went to the Lakers for a year, and then on to Charlotte to join the Hornets.  In between, he also managed a Fresh Off The Boat cameo!

Last night, though, he relived his glory days with the Knicks and brought Linsanity back.

Lin scored 35 points in Charlotte’s 109-99 overtime victory against Toronto (you know, the one the Raptors blew when they called timeout during DeMar DeRozan’s game-winner).  It was just his second start of the season as he subbed for Nicholas Batum and he made the most of it.  Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT2hEouhzzs

The 35 points were the most Lin had scored in an NBA game since December 10th 2012, when he scored 38 for the Rockets in a 134-126 OT loss to the Spurs.

For the season, Lin was averaging 10.5 PPG coming into the game as a key role player for the Hornets, who have been a pleasant surprise in the Eastern Conference this season.  And who knows, maybe this performance shows he’s still got some leading man left in him in his NBA career.  Regardless, it was a reminder of what was one of the more remarkable sports stories we’ve seen and a possible glimpse that Lin isn’t quite done yet making an indelible mark on the NBA.