Linsanity star Jeremy Lin retires from basketball

Taiwanese-American guard Jeremy Lin, best remembered for sparking the global phenomenon known as Linsanity in the NBA, officially announced his retirement from professional basketball on Sunday, August 31 (Philippine Standard Time) through posts on his social media accounts.

Lin, who in 2010 became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA when he signed with the Golden State Warriors, rose from relative obscurity to stardom in 2012 with the New York Knicks. His electrifying run under coach Mike D’Antoni transformed him into an international sensation and household name almost overnight.

“As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away. I have 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 have ever made,” Lin wrote.

Jeremy Lin retires: “Its been the honor of a lifetime to compete vs the fiercest competitors under the brightest lights…to challenge what the world thought was possible for someone who looks like me.…I’ll forever be the kid who felt fully alive everytime I touched a basketball” pic.twitter.com/Nf2CcBtbIS

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 31, 2025

“It’s been an 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. I have lived out my wildest childhood dreams to play in front of fans all around the world. I will forever be the kid who felt fully alive every time I touched a basketball.”

Lin’s NBA career began quietly, as he logged only 55 minutes across the Knicks’ first 23 games of the 2011–12 season. With the team struggling after 11 losses in 13 games, he was given an opportunity — and seized it. Lin became the first player in league history to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first five starts, averaging 22.5 points and 8.7 assists while leading New York to a 9–3 surge. The media quickly dubbed the phenomenon Linsanity.

Though injuries prevented him from sustaining those heights, Lin went on to play nine NBA seasons with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks, and Raptors — winning an NBA championship with Toronto in 2019. After leaving the NBA, he continued his career in China before returning to Taiwan to play in the local professional league.

Reflecting on his journey, Lin added: “So many people have sacrificed and poured into my journey, more than I could ever repay. Thank you all for believing in me, for walking with me, for celebrating my highs and picking me up in my lows. This is a ride I never wanted to end, but I know it’s time. I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all, but our time will go beyond just playing. Here’s to what’s ahead.”

Lin retires with career NBA averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game across nearly 500 appearances, starting in 221 of them.

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