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) PLG champion (2024) TPBL champion (2025) 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) 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010) Second-team All-Ivy League (2008)

Jeremy Lin
"Lin Shu-how" in traditional characters
Traditional Chinese	林書豪
Simplified Chinese	林书豪
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Bopomofo ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄨ ㄏㄠˊ Wade–Giles Lin2 Shu1-Hao2 IPA [lǐn ʂúxǎu̯] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lam4 Syu1 Hou4

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

Jeremy Lin is special because he was the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese background to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also the first Asian American to win an NBA championship. He won it with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Jeremy grew up in California. He was a great high school player. Even though he didn't get sports scholarships, he went to Harvard University. There, he became a top player. After college, no NBA team drafted him. But he signed with his hometown Golden State Warriors in 2010.

He didn't play much at first. He even spent time in a smaller league called the NBA Development League. In 2011, both the Warriors and the Houston Rockets let him go. Then, he joined the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Lin's Early Life and Family

Jeremy Lin was born in Torrance, California. His birthday is August 23, 1988. He grew up in Palo Alto, California. His parents, Gie-ming and Shirley Lin, moved to the U.S. from Taiwan in the 1970s. They both studied engineering.

Jeremy's parents are both about 5 feet 6 inches tall. But his mother's grandmother was very tall. Jeremy has two brothers, Josh and Joseph. Their dad taught them basketball at the local YMCA. Their mom helped start a basketball program in Palo Alto. She made sure basketball didn't hurt their schoolwork.

High School Basketball Success

In his last year of high school (2005–06), Jeremy was the captain of the Palo Alto High School team. They had an amazing record of 32 wins and only 1 loss. They even beat a top-ranked team, Mater Dei, to win the state championship.

Jeremy was named the best player in Northern California for his division. In his senior year, he averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.0 steals per game.

College Basketball Journey

Lin playing for Harvard in 2010

Jeremy sent his basketball highlights to many colleges. These included all the Ivy League schools and his dream schools like Stanford University. Many bigger schools only offered him a chance to "walk on" their team. This means he wouldn't get a scholarship or be actively recruited.

Harvard University and Brown were the only teams that promised him a spot. Ivy League schools don't offer sports scholarships. A Harvard coach first thought Jeremy was not strong enough. But then he saw Jeremy play in a tougher game. He saw Jeremy's strong desire to win. Jeremy became Harvard's top recruit.

Growing as a Player at Harvard

In his first year at Harvard, Jeremy was the "weakest guy on the team." But by his second year (2007–08), he was much better. He averaged 12.6 points and was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team.

In his third year (2008–09), Jeremy was one of the best players in his conference. He was in the top ten for scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. He was chosen for the All-Ivy League First Team. He had a great game against the 17th-ranked Boston College, scoring 27 points.

In his final year (2009–10), Jeremy continued to shine. He averaged 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He was again chosen for the All-Ivy League First Team. He gained national attention for scoring 30 points against the 12th-ranked Connecticut Huskies. Their coach, Jim Calhoun, said Jeremy "could play for any team."

Harvard set new records for wins during Jeremy's time there. He became the first player in Ivy League history to reach certain totals in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. He graduated from Harvard in 2010 with a degree in economics.

Professional Basketball Career

Starting with the Golden State Warriors (2010–2011)

No team picked Jeremy in the 2010 NBA draft. Scouts thought he might not be strong or athletic enough for the NBA. But he played well in the NBA Summer League. He then received offers from several teams.

Lin at Warriors practice in 2010

On July 21, 2010, Jeremy signed a two-year deal with his hometown Golden State Warriors. This was a big deal for an undrafted player. The San Francisco Bay Area, with many Asian Americans, was very excited. He became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA.

Jeremy didn't play much for the Warriors. He was behind star guards Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. He was sent to the D-League team, the Reno Bighorns, three times. In the D-League, he averaged 18 points per game. He finished his first NBA season averaging 2.6 points in 29 games.

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

Jeremy worked hard to improve his game during the offseason. He got stronger and faster. In December 2011, the Warriors let him go. Then the Houston Rockets also let him go. Finally, on December 27, the New York Knicks picked him up.

Lin after his first game for the Knicks in December 2011

At first, Jeremy played very little for the Knicks. He even spent time in the D-League again. But on February 4, 2012, the Knicks coach, Mike D'Antoni, gave him a chance. Jeremy played against the New Jersey Nets. He scored 25 points, had 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. These were all new career highs for him. The Knicks won!

After this game, Jeremy became a starter. The Knicks went on a seven-game winning streak. Jeremy's amazing play made him famous around the world. This period became known as "Linsanity." He appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time magazines. He was named one of the most influential people in the world.

On February 10, Jeremy scored a new career-high of 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He even outscored Kobe Bryant. On February 14, he made a game-winning three-pointer against the Toronto Raptors with less than a second left. He was the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and have seven assists in his first five starts.

Lin passing against the Sacramento Kings

Jeremy's success was incredible. He averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists in his first 12 starts. He played in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Rising Stars Challenge.

In March, Jeremy had knee surgery and missed the rest of the season. The Knicks made the playoffs that year. Jeremy finished sixth in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

Playing for the Houston Rockets (2012–2014)

After his time with the Knicks, Jeremy signed with the Houston Rockets in July 2012. The Rockets made him a key player in their team.

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

Jeremy struggled a bit at the start of the season. But on December 10, he scored 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This reminded many people of "Linsanity." He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 6.1 assists. The Rockets made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

In the 2013–14 season, Jeremy became the team's "sixth man." This means he came off the bench to provide a scoring spark. He had a career-high 34 points and 11 assists in one game. On February 1, 2014, he achieved his first career triple-double (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). He finished the season with career highs in shooting percentages.

Time with the Los Angeles Lakers (2014–2015)

Lin defending against John Wall of the Washington Wizards

On July 13, 2014, Jeremy was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He shot a career-high 36.9 percent on three-pointers that season. However, his role with the Lakers was not always clear. He started the season's first 20 games. But then he was moved to the bench. He later returned to the starting lineup in March 2015.

Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets (2015–2018)

On July 9, 2015, Jeremy signed with the Charlotte Hornets. He was expected to be a backup point guard. On December 17, he scored a season-high 35 points against the Toronto Raptors. He helped the Hornets make a big comeback win against the San Antonio Spurs in March 2016. He finished seventh in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

In July 2016, Jeremy signed with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson, had been an assistant with the Knicks during "Linsanity." Jeremy played well at first. But he suffered a hamstring injury in November 2016. He missed many games that season.

On October 18, 2017, Jeremy suffered a serious knee injury in the Nets' first game of the season. He tore a tendon in his right knee and missed the entire season.

Atlanta Hawks and NBA Championship with Toronto Raptors (2018–2019)

On July 13, 2018, Jeremy was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He was meant to help guide the team's young players. In February 2019, the Hawks let him go.

After that, Jeremy signed with the Toronto Raptors on February 13, 2019. The Raptors were a strong team hoping to win a championship. Jeremy struggled a bit with the Raptors. But Toronto made it to the 2019 NBA Finals and won the championship! Jeremy Lin became the first Asian American to win an NBA title.

Playing in China and Taiwan

Beijing Ducks (2019–2020)

On August 27, 2019, Jeremy signed with the Beijing Ducks in China. He became an All-Star in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. The Ducks reached the semifinals of the playoffs.

Santa Cruz Warriors (2021)

Jeremy wanted to return to the NBA. In 2021, he played for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G League team for the Golden State Warriors. He played well, averaging 19.8 points and 6.4 assists.

Return to China and Taiwan (2021–Present)

On June 11, 2021, Jeremy announced he was returning to the Beijing Ducks. He later played for the Guangzhou Loong Lions in 2022.

In January 2023, Jeremy signed with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in Taiwan's P. League+. His brother, Joseph, also played in Taiwan. On April 23, 2023, Jeremy made history in Taiwan. He became the first player in the PLG 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 the P. League+. He signed an extension with the New Taipei Kings in September 2024. In May and June 2025, Jeremy received several awards in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL). These included Clutch Play of the Year, All-Defensive First Team, All-TPBL First Team, and TPBL Most Valuable Player. He also won the Finals MVP award in the 2025 TPBL finals.

National Team Career

Jeremy Lin is a citizen of both the U.S. and Taiwan. In 2011, there was talk of him joining the Taiwan national team. But he had a knee injury and couldn't play.

In August 2020, he got a Taiwan passport.

Jeremy Lin's Basketball Skills

Jeremy Lin is known for being a strong and fast player. He likes to attack the basket and is good at the pick-and-roll play. He also improved his three-point shooting during his career. He is hard to guard because he often draws fouls from opponents.

Sometimes, he has been criticized for turning the ball over too much. He has also faced injuries throughout his career.

Facing Challenges: Racial Bias in Sports

Throughout his basketball career, Jeremy Lin has faced unfair comments because of his Asian background. When he was young, he heard biased remarks. In college, people would say hurtful things to him during games.

There has been discussion that stereotypes about Asian Americans might have affected his career. Some people thought he wasn't athletic enough, even when his skills showed otherwise. For example, a security guard once mistook him for a volleyball player. Another time, a guard at Madison Square Garden thought he was a trainer.

Jeremy has spoken out about these issues. He believes that people's ideas about Asians can affect how they see players. He said that "Linsanity" might have been bigger because of his ethnicity. But he also said that stereotypes made it harder for him to get opportunities in the first place.

In February 2021, Jeremy was called a hurtful name related to the COVID-19 pandemic by another player. He spoke out against this anti-Asian racism. He stressed the importance of learning and understanding.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

Jeremy Lin has used his success to help others. In October 2016, he gave $1 million to Harvard University. This money helps students with financial aid and improves school buildings.

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. He said the world needs more kindness and understanding.

In April 2020, he donated another $500,000 to charities helping with the pandemic. He encouraged everyone to work together. He said that at a time like this, it's not about politics or race, but about helping people survive.

Personal Life and Interests

Jeremy Lin keeps his personal life mostly private. In January 2023, he shared that he got married about two years before. His wife is of Filipino descent.

Jeremy is a Christian. He has said that his faith helps him play without pressure. He hopes to become a pastor one day and help underprivileged children.

He understands Mandarin but is still learning to speak it perfectly. When he first joined the Knicks, he slept on his brother's couch. Later, he moved to a condo.

Jeremy is a big fan of the video game Dota 2. He has played it since high school. He even formed his own professional Dota 2 team called J.Storm. On August 23, 2024, Jeremy announced that his son was born a few months earlier.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

CBA

Regular season

Playoffs

Images for kids

• 

  "Lin Shu-how" in traditional characters

• 

  Lin before a game in 2010

• 

  Lin in March 2012

• 

  Lin and Chandler Parsons on the Houston bench

• 

  Lin in 2014

• 

  Lin shooting a free throw

• 

  Lin playing in exhibition in Taipei in 2010

• 

  Lin meets Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou in 2010.

See also

In Spanish: Jeremy Lin para niños