Ming wanted Lin in Shanghai

As his legend continues to grow with each game, New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin reaches out to mentor Yao Ming to keep him grounded among the "Linsanity," but he reportedly declined the chance to play for Ming's Shanghai Sharks during the NBA lockout.

Lin, who has sparked a media and fan firestorm in the past week with stellar play that included a career-high 38 points against Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers, capped the week by hitting the game-winning free throw with 4.9 seconds left in a 100-98 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

Despite playing just 29 games for the Golden State Warriors last year and considering Ming his role model, Lin opted not to play for the Sharks, who are owned by the former NBA superstar center, sources told the New York Post.

Lin, who was born to Taiwanese parents, had played in Ming's charity basketball games in Taiwan and Beijing in August 2010, according to the Post. There, he formed a bond with the Chinese center, who helped pave the way to the NBA for Asian players.

While Lin opted to remain in the States and eventually landed with the Knicks, he has turned to Ming for advice frequently on how to handle the increasing attention after breaking out of obscurity.

"I talk to Yao after every game," Lin told reporters. "He's taken me out to eat every time we're in the same city. He's obviously a role model and a big brother to me and we keep in touch all the time."

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