Jeremy Lin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jeremy Lin

Lin in 2017
No. 7, 17
Point guard / shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1988-08-23) August 23, 1988 (age 37) Torrance, California, U.S.
Nationality	American Taiwanese
High school	Palo Alto (Palo Alto, California)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Harvard (2006–2010)
NBA Draft	2010 / Undrafted
Pro career	2010–2025
Career history
2010–2011	Golden State Warriors
2010–2011	→Reno Bighorns
2011	Dongguan Leopards
2011–2012	New York Knicks
2012	→Erie BayHawks
2012–2014	Houston Rockets
2014–2015	Los Angeles Lakers
2015–2016	Charlotte Hornets
2016–2018	Brooklyn Nets
2018–2019	Atlanta Hawks
2019	Toronto Raptors
2019–2020	Beijing Ducks
2021	Santa Cruz Warriors
2021–2022	Beijing Ducks
2022	Guangzhou Loong Lions
2023	Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
2023–2025	New Taipei Kings
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2019) TPBL champion (2025) PLG champion (2024) TPBL Finals MVP (2025) TPBL Most Valuable Player (2025) All-TPBL First Team (2025) TPBL Clutch Play of the Year (2025) TPBL All-Defensive First Team (2025) PLG assists leader (2023) CBA All-Star (2020) No. 7 retired by New Taipei Kings 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010) Second-team All-Ivy League (2008)
Career statistics
Points	5,567 (11.6 ppg)
Rebounds	1,338 (2.8 rpg)
Assists	2,042 (4.3 apg)

Jeremy Shu-How Lin (Chinese: 林書豪; born August 23, 1988) is a Taiwanese-American former professional basketball player. He became famous for leading the New York Knicks to an unexpected winning streak during the 2011–12 season. This exciting time was called "Linsanity". Jeremy Lin is special because he was the first player of Chinese or Taiwanese background born in the United States to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship, which he did with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Lin announced his retirement from basketball on August 30, 2025, after a 15-year career.

Early Life and School Days

Jeremy Lin was born in Torrance, California, on August 23, 1988. He grew up in Palo Alto, California, in a Christian family. His parents, Gie-ming Lin and Shirley Lin (née Xinxin Wu), moved from Taiwan to the United States in the 1970s. They both studied engineering and computer science. Jeremy has two brothers, Josh and Joseph. Their dad taught them to play basketball at the local YMCA. His mom made sure his basketball playing didn't get in the way of his schoolwork.

In his final year of high school (2005–06), Jeremy led Palo Alto High School to an amazing 32–1 record. They even won the California state title! He was named one of the best players in Northern California. During this time, he averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.0 steals per game.

College Journey at Harvard University

Lin in college in 2010

After high school, Jeremy sent his basketball highlights to many colleges. He dreamed of playing for schools like Stanford and UCLA. However, most big schools only offered him a chance to "walk on" (play without a scholarship). Only Harvard and Brown guaranteed him a spot on their teams. Ivy League schools like Harvard do not offer sports scholarships.

A Harvard coach initially thought Jeremy was not strong enough for their team. But after seeing him play in a tough game, driving to the basket with great determination, the coach changed his mind. Jeremy became Harvard's top recruit. He chose Harvard, even though it was close to Stanford, which didn't offer him a scholarship.

Jeremy worked hard and improved a lot at Harvard. By his junior year (2008–09), he was one of the top players in his conference. He was excellent at scoring, rebounding, assisting, and stealing the ball. In his senior year (2009–10), he continued to shine. He scored a career-high 30 points against the 12th-ranked Connecticut Huskies. The opposing coach, Jim Calhoun, said Jeremy "could play for any team." Jeremy graduated from Harvard in 2010 with a degree in economics. He was the first player in Ivy League history to achieve impressive career totals in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

Starting His Professional Basketball Career

No team chose Jeremy in the 2010 NBA draft. Scouts thought he was a smart passer but worried he wasn't strong or athletic enough for the NBA. He played for the Dallas Mavericks in a summer league, where he did very well. This led to offers from several NBA teams.

Golden State Warriors and Early Challenges (2010–2011)

Lin at Warriors practice in 2010

On July 21, 2010, Jeremy signed a two-year deal with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors. This was a big deal in the San Francisco Bay Area because of its large Asian-American population. He became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA.

Jeremy didn't get much playing time with the Warriors. He was often sent to their minor league team, the Reno Bighorns, to get more experience. He played well in the D-League, averaging 18 points per game. But he only played in 29 NBA games that season, averaging 2.6 points.

A Brief Stop in China (2011)

During an NBA lockout in 2011, Jeremy played a few games for the Dongguan Leopards in China. He was even named the MVP of a tournament there.

The Rise of "Linsanity" with the New York Knicks (2011–2012)

Lin after his first game for the Knicks in December 2011

Before the 2011–12 season, Jeremy was released by both the Warriors and the Houston Rockets. He then joined the New York Knicks in December 2011. The Knicks had many injured players, and Jeremy was low on their list of point guards. He worked incredibly hard, studying game films and practicing constantly.

In February 2012, the Knicks were struggling. Their coach, Mike D'Antoni, decided to give Jeremy a chance. On February 4, Jeremy played against the New Jersey Nets and scored 25 points, had 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. These were all new personal bests! The Knicks won, and Jeremy's amazing play began.

He became a starter and led the Knicks on a seven-game winning streak. This incredible period was called "Linsanity." Jeremy scored 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, outscoring superstar Kobe Bryant. He became the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and have seven assists in each of his first five starts. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

Lin passing against the Sacramento Kings

Jeremy's success made him famous worldwide. He appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines. He was even named one of the most influential people in the world by Time. In July 2012, he won the ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

Unfortunately, Jeremy suffered a knee injury in March 2012 and missed the rest of the season. The Knicks made the playoffs but lost without him.

Continuing His NBA Journey

Houston Rockets (2012–2014)

Lin and Chandler Parsons on the Houston bench

After his time with the Knicks, Jeremy signed with the Houston Rockets. He became a starter and worked hard to fit in with his new team. He had some great games, including one where he scored 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs. He also achieved his first career triple-double (scoring double digits in three different stats) with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Los Angeles Lakers (2014–2015)

In 2014, Jeremy was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He started many games but found it challenging to find his role in the team's offense. He still had some strong performances, including a season-high 29 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Charlotte Hornets (2015–2016)

Jeremy joined the Charlotte Hornets in 2015. He often came off the bench, providing a spark for the team. He scored a season-high 35 points against the Toronto Raptors. He also helped the Hornets make an amazing comeback from a 30-7 deficit to win a game against the San Antonio Spurs. He finished seventh in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Brooklyn Nets (2016–2018)

In 2016, Jeremy signed with the Brooklyn Nets. He was excited to reunite with coach Kenny Atkinson, who had been an assistant with the Knicks during "Linsanity." However, Jeremy faced several injuries during his time with the Nets, especially hamstring issues and a serious knee injury that kept him out for almost the entire 2017–18 season.

Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors (2018–2019)

Jeremy was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, where he helped mentor younger players. In February 2019, he joined the Toronto Raptors. With the Raptors, Jeremy became the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship in 2019. He played a small role in the playoffs but was part of the championship-winning team.

Playing Overseas and Retirement

Beijing Ducks (2019–2020)

In August 2019, Jeremy left the NBA and signed with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He quickly became a star there, earning an All-Star selection. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.

Santa Cruz Warriors (2021)

Jeremy tried to return to the NBA in 2021, playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G League (minor league) team for the Golden State Warriors. He played well, averaging 19.8 points and 6.4 assists in nine games.

Return to China and Taiwan (2021–2025)

He returned to the Beijing Ducks in 2021. In 2022, he played for the Guangzhou Loong Lions. During this time, he faced a penalty for comments about quarantine facilities. In January 2023, Jeremy signed with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in Taiwan's P. League+ (PLG), where his brother Joseph also played. On April 23, 2023, he made history in the PLG by recording a 50-point triple-double!

In September 2023, Jeremy joined his brother Joseph on the New Taipei Kings in the PLG. The team won the PLG championship in 2024. In 2025, the Kings joined the new Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL). Jeremy continued to excel, winning the TPBL Clutch Play of the Year, being selected to the All-Defensive First Team and All-TPBL First Team, and earning the TPBL Most Valuable Player award in 2025. He then led the Kings to win the TPBL championship in 2025 and was named the Finals MVP.

On August 30, 2025, Jeremy Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball. The New Taipei Kings held a ceremony to retire his number 7 jersey on December 28, 2025.

National Team Career

Jeremy Lin is a U.S. citizen and also a national of Taiwan through his parents. He was invited to play for the Chinese Taipei national team in 2011 but could not due to a knee injury. He also played for the USA Basketball Men's Select Team, which scrimmaged against the 2012 U.S. Olympic team candidates. In August 2020, he obtained a Taiwan passport.

Player Profile

Jeremy Lin was known as a strong and fast offensive player. He was great at attacking the basket and running the pick-and-roll play. Over his career, he improved his outside shooting, becoming a threat from three-point range. He was also good at drawing fouls from opponents. While he sometimes took risks, he was a determined player who always gave his best.

Facing Challenges and Stereotypes

Throughout his basketball journey, Jeremy Lin faced unfair comments and stereotypes because of his Asian heritage. In college, he heard hurtful phrases from other players. Even in the NBA, some people doubted his athletic abilities because of his background.

Jeremy has spoken openly about how these stereotypes affected him. He felt that his ethnicity might have played a role in why he wasn't drafted by an NBA team at first. He also noticed that sometimes his talents were described as "deceptive," which he believed was linked to racial perceptions.

Despite these challenges, Jeremy used them as motivation. He is very proud to be Asian American and believes that facing these obstacles made him stronger. He has emphasized the importance of education and understanding to fight against prejudice.

Giving Back to the Community

Jeremy Lin is also known for his kindness and generosity.

• In October 2016, he donated $1 million to Harvard University to help students with financial aid and improve campus facilities.
• In February 2020, he donated money to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke out against racism related to the outbreak, encouraging compassion and empathy.
• In April 2020, he donated another $500,000 to charities helping with the pandemic. He also promised to match additional donations. He wrote an article encouraging everyone to unite and help each other during difficult times.
• He has consistently spoken out against anti-Asian racism, urging people to be kind and thoughtful.

Personal Life

Jeremy Lin likes to keep his personal life private. In January 2023, he announced that he had married his wife about two years earlier. She is of Filipino descent. In August 2024, he shared the happy news that his son had been born a few months before.

Jeremy is a Christian and was a leader in Harvard's Asian American Christian Fellowship. He believes his faith helped him play without pressure. He hopes to become a pastor and work with non-profit organizations to help underprivileged children.

He understands some Mandarin Chinese and has worked to improve his language skills. When he first joined the Knicks, he slept on his brother's couch in New York City before his contract became guaranteed. Jeremy is also a big fan of the video game Dota 2 and even formed his own professional team, J.Storm, in 2016.

Career statistics

NBA Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

College Statistics

CBA Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Images for kids

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  Lin before a game in 2010

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  Rockets coach Kevin McHale speaks to Lin (No. 7) and his teammates during the 2013 NBA playoffs

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  Lin in 2014

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  Lin defending against John Wall of the Washington Wizards

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  Lin in March 2012

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  Lin playing in exhibition in Taipei in 2010

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  Lin shooting a free throw

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  Lin meets Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, 2010

See also

In Spanish: Jeremy Lin para niños