Jeremy Lin Gets Sports Illustrated Cover, Invades Canada

Linsanity travels across the border Tuesday night as the Knicks play in Toronto.

The Canadian media got their first chance to interview Jeremy Lin before the game, and took full advantage of the opportunity.

Lin held his own press conference as 16 different cameras filmed the point guard being peppered with questions from reporters.

Despite all the attention, Lin says he tries not to get too distracted.

I mean, I try to just not pay attention to it as much as possible, spending a lot of time with my family and friends in my free time, and then when I'm with the team we stay focused, and we know what we have to do, and then just staying in my Bible, basically.

He's only been on the scene for five games, but Lin has already landed his first Sports Illustrated cover. Editor of the Sports Illustrated Group Terry McDonell says he didn't think twice about putting Lin on the cover.

Jeremy Lin has done more in these past five games to captivate a fan base than any player in NBA history - and not just with his historic statistics. Look at what's going on in this city.

Even with all the praise Lin has garnered, he has been the center of some controversy.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather tweeted Monday that the only reason for Lin's popularity is his ethnicity.

Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise.

Lin did his best to defuse any debate about the role his race has played in the attention he has gotten.

You know, I don't really know, said Lin when asked if his heritage has anything to do with his popularity. I'm not going to guess, because I don't have an answer to that question. I'm not really too concerned with what anyone says.

Questions remain about how Lin will coexist with Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony when they finally return to the court. Stoudemire returns against the Raptors while Anthony should return sometime this week.

The Asian community in Toronto is patiently waiting to see Lin take the court. It's Asian Heritage Night at the Raptor game. Over two dozen Asian media outlets tried to watch the Knicks' shootaround, but were denied access because there wasn't enough room.

If Toronto is any indication, Linsanity isn't slowing down anytime soon.