Jeremy Lin has been getting advice on dealing with life in the NBA from Yao Ming.

“I actually talk to Yao after every game,’’ said Lin, the first Chinese-American NBA player. “He’s taken me out to eat when I’ve seen him. He’s obviously a role model, big brother and mentor to me. We keep in touch all the time.’’

Lin was born in California and grew up in Palo Alto. Lin’s parents are from Taiwan. Though Lin understands Chinese, he does not speak it fluently.