Jeremy Lin Announces Retirement: Recalling the 'Linsanity' Phenomenon and a Brilliant Career

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Former NBA star Jeremy Lin officially announced his retirement from professional basketball on August 31, 2025.

This decision marks the end of a tumultuous 15-year career, culminating in the "Linsanity" phenomenon that rocked the basketball world.

Lin, known as the first Asian-American player to win an NBA championship, left an unforgettable mark across the league.

The announcement was made via an Instagram post, in which Lin stated that this was the "hardest decision" he had ever made.

Lin's journey from undrafted player to NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 is an inspiration to many.

Jeremy Lin's career extends beyond the NBA, since he played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and Taiwan.

Jeremy Lin has announced his retirement from basketballLinsanity forever ♾️ pic.twitter.com/CrIbycLOkQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 31, 2025

Jeremy Shu-How Lin, born on August 23, 1988, in Torrance, California, is an American and Taiwanese basketball player.

Standing at 1.91 meters tall and weighing 91 kg, Lin showed promise during his time at Palo Alto High School.

He then attended Harvard University, where he graduated with a degree in Economics in 2010.

Despite going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Lin broke into the world's most prestigious basketball league.

He became the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA, paving the way for Asian representation in the sport.

The pinnacle of his NBA career was when he won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, becoming the first Asian-American player to achieve that feat.

During his nine-year NBA career, Lin averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 480 regular-season games.

His total NBA earnings reached over US$60 million.

The story of 'Linsanity' began when Jeremy Lin joined the New York Knicks on December 27, 2011, after being released by the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.

Initially, Lin rarely saw playing time and even spent time in the NBA Development League.

However, his fortunes changed drastically in February 2012.Under coach Mike D'Antoni, Lin was promoted to the starting lineup, and from then on, he led the Knicks to seven consecutive wins.

Iconic moments during 'Linsanity' include his performance against the New Jersey Nets on February 4, 2012, where he had 25 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Then, on February 6, he had 28 points and 8 assists against the Utah Jazz.

He culminated in a game-winning three-pointer on February 14, 2012, against the Toronto Raptors, and a 38-point game against the Los Angeles Lakers, surpassing Kobe Bryant.

During his "Linsanity" period, Lin averaged 26.8 points per game in six games.

In 26 games from February to March 2012, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals.

The Knicks went 9-3 during this period, with Lin averaging 22.5 points and 8.7 assists.

Unfortunately, this run was cut short by a torn meniscus in his left knee in March 2012.

After a stellar 'Linsanity' season, Jeremy Lin became a restricted free agent in the summer of 2012.

The Houston Rockets then offered him a three-year, $25 million contract.

The contract was structured with a substantial payout in the third year, approximately $14.8 million, but the New York Knicks ultimately declined to match the Rockets' offer.

Instead, the Knicks signed Raymond Felton.

Knicks owner James Dolan was reportedly furious with the Rockets' revised contract terms, which may have been a major factor in the decision.

While Lin himself had initially wanted to return to New York and even asked his agent to ask Houston to lower his offer, the Knicks had a different view.

Lin's departure from the Knicks was one of the most controversial chapters of his career, leaving significant questions about what really happened behind the scenes.

After leaving the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin continued his career with several other NBA teams.

He played for the Houston Rockets (2012–2014), Los Angeles Lakers (2014–2015), Charlotte Hornets (2015–2016), Brooklyn Nets (2016–2018), and Atlanta Hawks (2018–2019).

His NBA career peaked after the Knicks when he won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

In August 2019, Lin decided to leave the NBA and signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

He played for the Ducks in the 2019–2020 and 2021–2022 seasons, and the Guangzhou Loong Lions in 2022–2023.

He then continued his career in Taiwan, playing for the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers (2023) and the New Taipei Kings (2023–2025).

In the Taiwanese league, Lin demonstrated his dominance by leading the P. League+ (PLG) in assists in 2023.

He also won the PLG championship in 2024 and the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) championship in 2025.

His individual accolades in Taiwan include TPBL Finals MVP and TPBL Most Valuable Player in 2025, as well as being named to the All-TPBL First Team.

Jeremy Lin concluded his professional career after winning the 2025 TPBL championship with the New Taipei Kings, creating an inspirational story for basketball fans worldwide.