Jeremy Lin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jeremy Lin

Lin in 2017
No. 7 – New Taipei Kings
Point guard / shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1988-08-23) August 23, 1988 (age 36) 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–present
League	Taiwan Professional Basketball League
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–present	New Taipei Kings
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2019) CBA All-Star (2020) P. League+ champion (2024) P. League+ assists leader (2023) 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010) Second-team All-Ivy League (2008)

Jeremy Shu-How Lin (born August 23, 1988) is an American basketball player. He plays for the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan. Jeremy became famous in the 2011–12 season. He led the New York Knicks to many wins. This exciting time was called "Linsanity".

Jeremy was the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese background in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also one of the few Asian Americans to play in the league. In 2019, he became the first Asian American to win an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors.

Jeremy grew up in California. He was named the best high school player in Northern California. Even so, he didn't get any sports scholarships. He went to Harvard University and played basketball there. He was a top player in the Ivy League. After college, no NBA team picked him in the draft. He signed with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors, in 2010. He didn't play much in his first year. He also spent time in the NBA's minor league, the D-League. In 2011, the Warriors and the Houston Rockets let him go. He then joined the New York Knicks.

At first, Jeremy played very little for the Knicks. He even went back to the D-League. But in February 2012, he got a chance to start. He led the team to a seven-game winning streak. His amazing play made him famous around the world. He appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines. He was also named one of the most important people in the world by Time. In July 2012, he won an ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

After the Knicks, Jeremy played for several other NBA teams. These included the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors. He had some good times in Houston and Charlotte. But he also faced many injuries. In August 2019, he left the NBA. He signed with the Beijing Ducks in China. There, he became an All-Star in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He tried to return to the NBA in 2021. He played for the Warriors' minor league team. Then he went back to the CBA. He played for the Ducks again and later the Guangzhou Loong Lions. In 2023, he joined the Steelers in Taiwan's P. League+.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Jeremy Shu-How Lin was born in Torrance, California, on August 23, 1988. He grew up in Palo Alto, California. His parents, Gie-ming Lin and Shirley Lin, moved from Taiwan to the United States in the 1970s. They are citizens of both Taiwan and the U.S.

Jeremy's parents are both about 5 feet 6 inches tall. His mother's side of the family was taller. Jeremy has an older brother, Josh, and a younger brother, Joseph. Their father taught them to play basketball at the local YMCA. His mother helped start a basketball program in Palo Alto. She made sure his basketball didn't get in the way of his schoolwork.

In his last year of high school (2005–06), Jeremy was the team captain. He led Palo Alto High School to a great record of 32 wins and only 1 loss. They won the California state title. He was named the best player in Northern California. That year, he averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.0 steals per game.

College Basketball at Harvard

Jeremy Lin playing for Harvard in 2010

Jeremy sent his basketball highlights to all the Ivy League schools. He also sent them to his dream schools, Stanford University and UCLA. The bigger schools in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) conference only offered him a chance to "walk on." This meant he wouldn't get a scholarship or be actively recruited. Only Harvard University and Brown guaranteed him a spot on their teams. Ivy League schools do not offer sports scholarships.

A Harvard coach first thought Jeremy was not good enough. But then he saw Jeremy play in a tougher game. Jeremy was driving to the basket often. He became Harvard's top recruit. Many people were surprised Stanford didn't recruit him. Stanford was right across the street from his high school.

In his second year (2007–08), Jeremy averaged 12.6 points. He was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team. By his third year (2008–09), he was one of the top players in his conference. He was good at scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. He was named to the All-Ivy League First Team. He scored 27 points against the 17th-ranked Boston College.

In his final year (2009–10), Jeremy averaged 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He was again named to the All-Ivy League First Team. He gained national attention for his game against the 12th-ranked UConn Huskies. He scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The UConn coach, Jim Calhoun, said Jeremy "could play for any of them."

Harvard set many team records that season, including 21 wins. Jeremy finished his college career as the first Ivy League player ever to get at least 1,450 points, 450 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals. He graduated from Harvard in 2010 with a degree in economics.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting with the Golden State Warriors (2010–2011)

Jeremy was disappointed when no team picked him in the 2010 NBA draft. Scouts thought he was a smart passer but not strong enough for the NBA. He joined the Dallas Mavericks for a summer league. The Mavericks were the only team to invite him.

Jeremy Lin at Warriors practice in 2010

After playing well in the Summer League, Jeremy got offers from a few teams. On July 21, 2010, he signed a two-year deal with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors. He also signed a deal with Nike. The Warriors held a big press conference for him. This was unusual for a player who wasn't drafted. He became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese background to play in the NBA.

Jeremy didn't play much for the Warriors. They had two star guards, Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. He was sent to the D-League three times. He played well there, averaging 18 points. The Warriors saw him as a possible backup player. He finished his first NBA season averaging 2.6 points in 29 games.

Playing in China (2011)

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

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

Jeremy worked hard to improve his game. He changed his shooting style and got much stronger. But the Warriors let him go in December 2011. The Houston Rockets then picked him up, but they also let him go quickly.

Jeremy Lin after his first game for the Knicks in December 2011

On December 27, the New York Knicks picked Jeremy up. They needed a backup guard because of injuries. At first, Jeremy was the fourth-string point guard. He was afraid of being cut again. He worked very hard, studying game films and practicing.

On February 4, 2012, the Knicks were playing badly. Coach Mike D'Antoni decided to give Jeremy a chance. Against the New Jersey Nets, Jeremy had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. These were all new career highs. The Knicks won! In the next game, Jeremy started for the first time. He scored 28 points and had 8 assists. The Knicks went on a seven-game winning streak.

Jeremy scored 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, beating Kobe Bryant's score. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. On February 14, he hit a game-winning three-pointer against Toronto. This shot made Lakers player Metta World Peace shout "Linsanity! Linsanity!" Jeremy became the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and have 7 assists in his first five starts.

Jeremy Lin passing against the Sacramento Kings

The excitement around Jeremy's sudden success was called "Linsanity." In his first 12 starts, he averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists. The Knicks had a 9–3 record. He even played in the NBA All-Star Weekend.

In March, Jeremy hurt his knee. He had surgery and missed the rest of the season. He averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 assists in his 26 games as a starter. The Knicks made the playoffs but lost without him. Jeremy was considered for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

Time with the Houston Rockets (2012–2014)

After the Knicks season, Jeremy became a free agent. The Houston Rockets offered him a contract. The Knicks decided not to match the offer. This surprised many people.

Jeremy became the starting point guard for the Rockets. But the team soon got James Harden, who became the main star. Jeremy struggled at first. On December 10, he scored 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This game reminded people of his "Linsanity" days. On December 17, he played against the Knicks in New York. He scored 22 points and had 9 assists, leading the Rockets to a win.

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

Jeremy finished the 2012–13 season averaging 13.4 points and 6.1 assists. The Rockets made the playoffs but lost in the first round. Jeremy got a chest injury during the playoffs.

In the 2013–14 season, Jeremy became the team's "sixth man." This meant he came off the bench to lead the second group of players. He had a career-high 34 points and 11 assists in one game. He also got his first "triple-double" (double digits in points, rebounds, and assists) against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished the season with his best shooting percentages. The Rockets lost in the playoffs again.

Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (2014–2015)

On July 13, 2014, Jeremy was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets traded him to make space for other players. He shot well from three-point range that season. But his role with the Lakers was unclear. The team had a tough season, winning only 21 games.

Jeremy Lin defending against John Wall of the Washington Wizards

Jeremy started the season as a starter. But he struggled with the coach's offense. He was used to playing a faster style. He was moved to the bench. Later in the season, he returned to the starting lineup. He missed the last five games due to illness.

With the Charlotte Hornets (2015–2016)

On July 9, 2015, Jeremy signed a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He was expected to be the backup point guard. He played well for the Hornets. On December 17, he scored a season-high 35 points against Toronto. On March 21, 2016, he scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hornets come back from a big deficit and win. His only season with the Hornets ended when they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Time with the Brooklyn Nets (2016–2018)

On July 7, 2016, Jeremy signed a three-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets' coach, Kenny Atkinson, had been an assistant coach with the Knicks during "Linsanity." Jeremy played well in his first few games. But he suffered a hamstring injury in November. He missed many games that season due to injuries. He played only 36 games, averaging 14.5 points.

In the Nets' first game of the 2017–18 season, Jeremy suffered a serious injury. He tore a tendon in his right knee. This meant he missed the entire season.

Short Stays with Atlanta and Toronto (2018–2019)

On July 13, 2018, Jeremy was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He was meant to be a mentor for a young player named Trae Young. In February 2019, the Hawks let him go.

Jeremy then signed with the Toronto Raptors on February 13, 2019. He joined a team that was aiming for the playoffs. He struggled with the Raptors, averaging 7 points. During the playoffs, he played very little. In June, he said his knee injury from 2017 was still affecting him. Toronto reached the 2019 NBA Finals and won the championship. Jeremy became the first Asian American to win an NBA title. He also became the first Harvard graduate to play in the NBA Finals.

After winning the championship, Jeremy became a free agent. He was sad that no NBA teams signed him. He felt like the NBA had "given up" on him.

Playing in China Again (2019–2022)

On August 27, 2019, Jeremy signed with the Beijing Ducks in China. He had a great season there. He was named a starter for the CBA All-Star Game. He scored 41 points in that game. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists for the season. The Ducks lost in the playoffs.

In 2021, Jeremy tried to return to the NBA. He played for the Santa Cruz Warriors, a G League team. He played well, averaging 19.8 points. But he didn't get an NBA contract.

On June 11, 2021, Jeremy announced he was returning to the Beijing Ducks. He got COVID-19 when he returned to China. He lost 20 pounds and felt very tired when he played again.

Back to Taiwan (2022–Present)

Jeremy signed with the Guangzhou Loong Lions in China for the 2022–23 season. He left the team in December 2022.

Jeremy Lin is making a free throw

On January 26, 2023, Jeremy signed with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in Taiwan. His brother, Joseph, was playing for another team in Taiwan. On April 23, 2023, Jeremy made history in Taiwan's PLG league. He became the first player to record a 50-point triple-double. He had 50 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.

On September 19, 2023, Jeremy joined his brother Joseph on the New Taipei Kings team in Taiwan. He signed a contract extension with them in September 2024.

National Team Career

Jeremy is a citizen of both the U.S. and Taiwan. In 2011, Taiwan's basketball association considered him for their national team. But his NBA team advised him not to play due to a knee injury.

In 2012, Jeremy was chosen to practice against the U.S. Olympic team. But he couldn't join because of his contract status. In August 2020, he got a Taiwan passport.

Player Profile

Jeremy Lin is a strong and fast offensive player. He likes to attack the basket and is good at the pick-and-roll play. He improved his outside shooting during his career. He became good at making three-point shots. He is hard to guard because he often draws fouls from defenders.

Jeremy has been known to take risks on the court. Sometimes, he has been criticized for making too many turnovers. He has also faced challenges with injuries and keeping his play consistent.

Facing Challenges: Race in Basketball

Throughout his basketball career, Jeremy has faced comments about his Asian background. When he was in sixth grade, he heard racist remarks.

In 2012, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Jeremy's fame was "because he's Asian." But many people pointed out that no player, no matter their race, had done what Jeremy did in his first few starts.

Some people think stereotypes about Asian-Americans in sports affected Jeremy's career. In 2009, Time magazine wondered if "racial profiling" played a part in him not getting college scholarships. Jeremy himself felt his ethnicity affected how coaches recruited him. He believed if he were a different race, he would have been treated differently. Less than 0.5% of college Division 1 basketball players were Asian-American during his time.

The general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, said Jeremy did very well in pre-draft tests. He said their computer model suggested picking Jeremy very early in the draft. A year later, the Rockets measured players' first two steps. Jeremy had the quickest first move of any player they measured. He could change direction faster than most NBA players. Morey said, "He's incredibly athletic. But the reality is that every person, including me, thought he was unathletic. And I can't think of any reason for it other than he was Asian."

Jeremy has also faced funny but frustrating situations. Once, a security guard at a San Francisco basketball game told him there was no volleyball that night. Early in his Knicks career, a security guard at Madison Square Garden stopped him. The guard thought he was a trainer, not a player. Even after five years in the NBA, he had to convince security at the Charlotte Hornets' arena that he was a player.

In 2015, Jeremy said that people's ideas about Asians affected how they saw his game. He felt Asians don't always get the respect they deserve in sports. He also said that "Linsanity" might not have been as big if he were a different skin color. But he also felt that stereotypes made it harder for him to even get a chance to play.

In February 2021, another G League player called Jeremy "coronavirus." This made Jeremy speak out against hate towards Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged people to learn more and be kind.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

In October 2016, Jeremy donated $1 million to Harvard University. This money helps students with financial aid and improves school buildings.

In February 2020, Jeremy donated money to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke out against racism related to the virus. He said the world needs more kindness and understanding.

In April 2020, Jeremy donated $500,000 to two charities. He also promised to match another $500,000 in donations. He wrote an article asking for unity during the pandemic. He said COVID-19 should be about helping people, not about race or politics.

In May 2020, Jeremy continued to speak out against anti-Asian racism. He asked people to think before they speak or act. He said small steps can help make things better.

Personal Life

Jeremy is a private person about his personal life. In January 2023, he announced on social media that he had gotten married about two years earlier. His wife is from the Philippines. His older brother, Joshua, studied dentistry.

Jeremy is a Christian. He said his success in the NBA came from playing without pressure. He hopes to become a pastor one day. He wants to help children in need.

Jeremy understands Mandarin but needs practice speaking it. He can also read and write a little. When he first joined the Knicks in 2012, he slept on his brother's couch. Later, he moved to a luxury apartment.

Jeremy is a big fan of the video game Dota 2. He has played it since high school. He even appeared in a documentary about the game. In 2016, he started his own professional Dota 2 team.

On August 23, 2024, Jeremy announced on Instagram that he had become a father to a son a few months before.