Jeremy Lin, the man who sparked a global frenzy during his unforgettable “Linsanity” run with the New York Knicks in 2012, has officially hung up his jersey.
The 37-year-old made the announcement over the weekend on Instagram, marking the end of a 15-year career that spanned the NBA, China, and most recently, Taiwan.
“As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away,” Lin wrote. “Yet actually saying goodbye to basketball today has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”
Lin’s words carried the weight of a trailblazer who redefined what was possible for Asian athletes on the global stage:
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to compete against the fiercest competitors under the brightest lights and to challenge what the world thought was possible for someone who looks like me.”
After going undrafted out of Harvard, Lin’s NBA journey saw him bounce across eight teams in nine seasons. But it was a February night in 2012 that immortalised him. Inserted into the Knicks’ lineup, Lin led the team on a seven-game win streak, capped by a 38-point performance against Kobe Bryant’s Lakers. Overnight, the Taiwanese-American guard became a cultural icon.
His NBA career wrapped up with a championship ring with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, but Lin’s impact extended far beyond the box score. In Taiwan, he found new life with the New Taipei Kings, securing back-to-back titles and a Finals MVP in the process.
Read more: Jeremy Lin’s New Role as Mentor to Asian American College Players
For Lin, the game was more than basketball—it was about representation, resilience, and rewriting narratives. As he put it:
“I will forever be the kid who felt fully alive every time I touched a basketball.”
From “Linsanity” to legacy, Jeremy Lin leaves the court as more than just a player—he leaves as a symbol of possibility.
Feature image: KOKUYO