By Matt Morel

Jeremy Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball Saturday night after a nine-year NBA career that saw him briefly become the face of the New York Knicks and the namesake of a sports phenomenon.

“As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away. I’ve spent my 15-year career knowing that one day I would have to walk away, and yet actually saying goodbye to basketball today has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Lin wrote in a social media post.

Lin, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, grew up in Palo Alto, Calif. Spurred by his mother, he graduated from Harvard University, which does not give out athletic scholarships.

He went unselected in the 2009 NBA Draft, then signed with his hometown Golden State Warriors, where he played for a year. Lin’s debut drew significant attention from American and Chinese media, with the fan base’s large Asian population celebrating his arrival. However, his playing time was limited as the season progressed, and he spent most of the year on the bench.

The Knicks claimed Lin off waivers in 2011 after losing starting guard Iman Shumpert to an ACL tear. Lin initially had to compete for a backup role and knew the team was considering cutting him. Hampered by injuries, New York had hit a slump, however. Heeding a prod from Carmelo Anthony, coach Mike D’Antoni gave Lin a chance to play in February 2012 as the team’s offense stalled.

Within days, Lin skyrocketed to fame after averaging 24.6 points, 9.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds over an 11-game stretch. Fans, peers and commentators embraced the 23-year-old’s breakout, dubbing it “Linsanity.”

To read the entire article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6587493/2025/08/31/jeremy-lin-linsanity-basketball-retirement/

Photo credit: Homecourtfilm,Jaymekiyomurachan,jlin7/Instagram