‘Linsanity’ concludes: Taiwanese-American NBA trailblazer Jeremy Lin retires after 15-year career

NEW YORK, Sept 1 — Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese-American guard who sparked global “Linsanity” during his breakout 2012 run with the New York Knicks, has announced his retirement from professional basketball after a 15-year career.

The 37-year-old, who captured an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, shared the news on Instagram Saturday night, posting a highlight reel of his career that ended with a family photo and the words “Happy retirement.”

Lin, whose maternal grandmother was from China, capped his career by leading the New Taipei Kings to the Taiwan P. League+ title in June, earning both regular season and finals MVP honours.

“As athletes, we always know retirement is never far away. I’ve carried that awareness through my 15-year career, but saying goodbye today is still the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” Lin wrote.

“It has been the honour of a lifetime to compete against the best under the brightest lights and to challenge what the world thought possible for someone who looks like me.

“I’ve lived out my wildest childhood dreams, playing in front of fans around the world. I’ll always be the kid who came alive every time I touched a basketball.”

A Harvard economics graduate in 2010, Lin became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA when he joined the Golden State Warriors later that year.

After brief stints with Golden State and Houston, Lin landed in New York in December 2011. Initially a little-used reserve, he exploded onto the scene after being thrust into the rotation, leading the Knicks on a stunning seven-game winning streak.

His electrifying performances — including a 38-point game against Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and a last-second game-winning three-pointer against Toronto — captivated fans worldwide and cemented the “Linsanity” phenomenon. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first five starts.

Lin averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists during that stretch before a knee injury ended his season. Though he struggled with injuries throughout the rest of his NBA journey, he went on to play for Houston, the Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Atlanta, and Toronto — where he became the first player of Taiwanese or Chinese descent to win an NBA championship.

“This ride is one I never wanted to end, but I know it’s time,” Lin wrote. “I’ll miss playing in front of you all, but our journey goes beyond the game. Here’s to what lies ahead.” — AFP