New York, Feb 24 (IANS): NBA's latest basketball star Jeremy Lin has applied to the US Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the term "Linsanity".

According to the trademark regulators' website, Lin filed his application Feb 13, a move that would give the rising NBA star sole rights to use the term on products.

Lin's application indicates his interest in using the phrase on balls, toys, action figures, shirts and other clothing, shoes, caps, water bottles and bags, Xinhua reported.

Earlier this month, the American-born-Chinese burst into the spotlight as an unlikely benchwarmer turned hero for New York Knicks.

He helped the Knicks win seven games in a row, sparking a phenomenon dubbed "Linsanity" by New York media that turned into a global following. The phrase describes the crazed excitement surrounding Lin.

The 89 points Lin scored in his first three starts is the most by any NBA player since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-1977.

Lin, however, is not the only one to file the trademark of "Linsanity". There're seven applications that have been submitted to the US trademark office.