National Basketball Association

Report: Tim Tebow talks to Jeremy Lin

Published Feb. 23, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Linsanity has finally met Tebow-mania — sort of.

Knicks breakout star Jeremy Lin and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow have "connected," according to Adrian Tam, Lin's former chaplain at Harvard.

"They've spoken over the telephone. Jeremy's been a fan of Tebow's for a while, but only recently were they able to connect," Tam told People magazine. "His comment to me was that Tim is a really great guy and that he's very inspired by him."

Lin and Tebow are both devout Christians and in recent weeks have expressed admiration for one another's accomplishments in their respective sports.

Tebow mentioned Lin at the Cartoon Network Hall of Game awards on Monday.

"I've had the pleasure of getting to know him over the last few weeks and what a great guy he is," Tebow told ESPN. "I think he's handling himself great and I think he can take care of himself. And I just say keep being true to him and keep working hard and don't listen to everybody else."

Lin and Tebow both outwardly express their faith in interviews and during games. Tebow's celebratory kneels inspired a popular pose called Tebow-ing and Lin has a pregame ritual that consists of reading the Bible.

Both athletes have also expressed the desire to become pastors after their playing careers are over.

Like Tebow, Lin's team has also enjoyed immense success after inserting him into the lineup. The Knicks are 8-2 with Lin as the starting point guard.

Tebow took over for Kyle Orton in Week 7 last season, leading the Broncos on an improbable run to the AFC West title.

There is, however, one major difference between the enormously popular stars. While Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winner at Florida and a first round pick in the NFL Draft, Lin spent his college career mostly under the radar at Harvard and went undrafted.