Houston Rockets newly acquired point guard Jeremy Lin has refused to compare himself with retired NBA superstar Yao Ming, saying his career accomplishments pale in comparison with the Chinese basketball star.

What I have done is nothing compared to what Yao has done," Lin said to journalists during his visit to his parents' hometown of Taipei. "I have always looked up to Yao, but I don't see myself as having to fill his shoes."

"My goal was very simple, and it is to get as close as I can to reach my personal potential. I am not sure what that is, but my goal is to find out," added Lin, the first NBA player of Taiwanese descent .

Lin has joined Yao's former NBA team after the New York Knicks declined to match the three-year, $25 million offer sheet tendered by the Rockets.

Nagging injuries have forced Yao to retire after playing nine seasons with the Rockets. He averaged 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 assists.

Yao's retirement has left Asians without an ambassador in the NBA until Lin's outstanding play with the Knicks grabbed attention last season.

Searching for a reliable point guard, then Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni started Lin, who scored 25 points in a 99-92 win over New Jersey Nets and it was history for "Linsanity" from there.

In 35 games, Lin averaged 14.6 points before his season came to an end in April when he suffered a tear in his left knee that needed surgery.

Lin attributed his success this year to his Christian faith. He said the New York Knicks' game against the Toronto Raptors was one in which he truly felt the presence of God.

"There were five seconds left on the clock. I did not want to shoot the shot that I took because that was one of my worst shots that I was practicing during the summer, but it went down, and that was my only three-pointer that I made from the top of the key in the whole season," Lin said.

Lin said he had learned to deal with the mounting pressure that came with his fame in his first year in the NBA.

"My rookie year helped me with handling pressure," he said. "Just to play for God. That's important to me, because when I feel like I have to play to please everybody else, I put too much pressure on myself and I don't play the way I am supposed to."

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