History of Jeremy Lin in Timeline
Jeremy Lin is a Taiwanese-American professional basketball player currently playing for the New Taipei Kings. He rose to prominence in 2012 with the New York Knicks, leading a remarkable turnaround that became known as "Linsanity." Lin holds the distinction of being the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA and the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship, achieving this feat with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
1976: Merger between the ABA and the NBA
The merger between the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the NBA occurred in 1976, serving as a historical point for statistics referenced during Jeremy Lin's career.
1977: Individual turnovers began being tracked
In 1977, individual turnovers began being tracked, providing a historical context for statistics related to Jeremy Lin's performance.
1985: Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing
In 1985, the New York Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing, a point of reference used when assessing Jeremy Lin's impact on the team.
August 23, 1988: Jeremy Lin's Birth
On August 23, 1988, Jeremy Shu-How Lin was born. He is a Taiwanese-American professional basketball player.
2006: Won California Interscholastic Federation Division II state title
In 2006, during his senior year, Jeremy Lin captained Palo Alto High School and led them to a 32–1 record, winning the California Interscholastic Federation Division II state title.
2008: Lin's Comments on Recruitment Bias
In 2008, Jeremy Lin stated that his ethnicity affected the way coaches recruited him, suggesting he would have been treated differently if he were of a different race.
2008: All-Ivy League Second Team
In 2008, during his sophomore season, Jeremy Lin averaged 12.6 points and was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team.
2009: Time Article on Racial Profiling
In 2009, Sean Gregory of Time magazine wrote that racial profiling may have contributed to Jeremy Lin not receiving Division I basketball scholarship offers.
2009: All-Ivy League First Team
In 2009, during his junior year, Jeremy Lin was a consensus selection for the All-Ivy League First Team.
July 21, 2010: Signed two-year deal with Warriors
On July 21, 2010, Jeremy Lin signed a two-year deal with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors. He also signed a three-year guaranteed contract with Nike.
2010: Graduated from Harvard
In 2010, Jeremy Lin graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics and a 3.1 grade-point average.
2010: Joined Mavericks for mini-camp and Summer League
In 2010, Jeremy Lin joined the Dallas Mavericks for mini-camp as well as their NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas after going undrafted.
2010: Signed with Golden State Warriors
In 2010, Jeremy Lin signed with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors, after going undrafted out of college.
January 14, 2011: Named to All-NBA D-League Showcase First Team
On January 14, 2011, Jeremy Lin was named to the All-NBA D-League Showcase First Team while playing for the Reno Bighorns.
July 2011: Named Top Influential Chinese-American
In July 2011, Jeremy Lin was named one of the top eight influential Chinese-Americans by Vivid Magazine.
September 2011: Played for Dongguan Leopards
In September 2011, Jeremy Lin played a few games for the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Dongguan Leopards at the ABA Club Championship in Guangzhou, China, where he was named the MVP of the tournament.
December 9, 2011: Waived by the Warriors
On December 9, 2011, the Warriors waived Jeremy Lin to free up salary cap space.
December 12, 2011: Claimed off waivers by the Houston Rockets
On December 12, 2011, Jeremy Lin was claimed off of waivers by the Houston Rockets.
2011: Waived by Warriors and Rockets, joined Knicks
In 2011, Jeremy Lin was waived by both the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets before joining the New York Knicks early in the 2011–12 season.
February 2, 2012: Lin excels against New Jersey at the dawn of Linsanity
February 2, 2012 was two days before Jeremy Lin logged then-career highs against New Jersey at the dawn of Linsanity.
February 4, 2012: Lin's Jersey Becomes Best-Selling Online
In the week of February 4, 2012, Jeremy Lin's jersey became the best-selling online in the NBA, and the Knicks became the best-selling team. The team began selling Lin merchandise on February 10, and one souvenir stand at Madison Square Garden sold out before the game started.
February 10, 2012: Contract Guarantee Date
February 10, 2012, was the date when Jeremy Lin's contract with the Warriors would have become fully guaranteed, before he was waived.
February 2012: Mayweather's Racist Tweet
In February 2012, Floyd Mayweather Jr. posted a tweet saying Jeremy Lin's hype was due to his Asian ethnicity and that Black players perform similarly without the same praise. NBC New York responded by stating that no player of any race had achieved what Lin did in his first four starts for the Knicks.
February 2012: Promotion to Knicks Starting Lineup
In February 2012, Jeremy Lin was promoted to the starting lineup for the New York Knicks and subsequently led the team on a seven-game winning streak.
February 17, 2012: ESPN's Racial Slur
On February 17, 2012, ESPN used the racial slur "Chink in the Armor" in a headline after Lin's nine turnovers in a loss to the Hornets. The headline was removed after 35 minutes, and ESPN apologized; the editor was fired. Jeremy Lin reached out to the editor to say that he did not think the headline was meant to be racially charged. Knicks radio announcer Spero Dedes also used the phrase on 1050 ESPN New York.
April 2012: Jersey Sales Success
For the one-year period ending in April 2012, Jeremy Lin had the second-highest selling jersey in the NBA, behind Derrick Rose. Both Nike and Adidas introduced Lin-related athletic apparel, anticipating sales in China.
April 2012: Named to Time 100
In April 2012, Jeremy Lin was named to the Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world.
June 18, 2012: Wins Social Breakout Player of the Year
On June 18, 2012, Jeremy Lin was announced as the first-ever winner of the "Social Breakout Player of the Year" Award by NBA TV. He also won "The EPIC Award".
July 2012: Market Cap Increase
By July 2012, the market capitalization of the Madison Square Garden Company rose by $600 million due to the Knicks' success attributed to Jeremy Lin's play.
July 2012: ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
In July 2012, Jeremy Lin won the ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
July 2012: Wins ESPY Award
In July 2012, Jeremy Lin won the ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. He was described as an "American icon", and was said to have given Asian-Americans a popular sports figure to relate to.
2012: Living Arrangements After Joining the Knicks
After joining the Knicks in 2012, Jeremy Lin initially slept on a couch in his brother's one-bedroom apartment in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. He later moved to a luxury condo in White Plains, New York, after his Knicks contract became guaranteed.
2012: Linsanity Trademarked
In 2012, Jeremy Lin trademarked the word "Linsanity" to prevent others from profiting from his likeness, after two others attempted to trademark the term in early February.
2012: Coach's Observations on Recruiting
In 2012, Lin's high school basketball coach, Peter Diepenbrock, observed that he did not think Lin's race affected his recruiting until he later saw 10 Division I coaches express interest in a black student he considered a "nice junior college player".
2012: Knicks didn't match Rockets' offer
In 2012, the Knicks did not match the Houston Rockets' offer to Jeremy Lin, leading to his departure from the team; Lin deduced the team's decision when they signed Raymond Felton instead.
January 20, 2013: "Linsanity" Documentary Premieres
On January 20, 2013, the documentary film "Linsanity" about Jeremy Lin premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
February 2013: Improved performance and All-Star selection
In February 2013, Jeremy Lin's scoring, shooting percentage, and 3-point percentage improved after the All-Star break, and he was selected to compete in the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend. The New York Times reported that he was "fitting in well" with the Rockets.
November 14, 2013: ESPN Apologizes for On-Air Comment
On November 14, 2013, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jorge Andres apologized on-air after commenting that Lin "was cooking with some hot peanut oil" following Lin's 21-point performance in a win over the Knicks.
2013: Lin's Gut Feeling and Stern's Belief on Discrimination
Based on comments that his talents were "deceptive", in 2013, Jeremy Lin stated in a 60 Minutes interview that he had a "gut feeling" that his ethnicity contributed to him being undrafted. NBA commissioner David Stern also believed Lin was not drafted due to discrimination, citing uncertainty about whether it was due to his Harvard background or his Asian ethnicity.
February 1, 2014: Lin records first career triple-double
On February 1, 2014, Jeremy Lin recorded his first career triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 29 minutes off the bench. The Houston Rockets secured a 106–92 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
July 13, 2014: Lin traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
On July 13, 2014, Jeremy Lin, along with a first-round and a second-round draft pick, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers by the Houston Rockets in exchange for the rights to Serhiy Lishchuk. This move was made by the Rockets to clear cap space in their attempt to sign free agent Chris Bosh.
2014: Appearance in Free to Play Documentary
In 2014, Jeremy Lin appeared in "Free to Play", a documentary centered around Dota 2, where he described the game as a "way of life" that helped him connect with family and friends.
2014: Content Partnership with Whistle Sports Network
In 2014, Jeremy Lin became a content partner with Whistle Sports Network, adding his YouTube channel with roughly 400,000 subscribers in exchange for an undisclosed equity stake, making him the first athlete from one of the four major sports leagues in the United States to produce content for the digital sports platform.
2014: Madame Tussauds Wax Figure Unveiled
In 2014, a wax figure of Jeremy Lin's likeness was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in San Francisco.
January 23, 2015: Lin benched by the Lakers
On January 23, 2015, Lakers coach Byron Scott promoted rookie Jordan Clarkson to start over Ronnie Price and chose not to play a healthy Jeremy Lin in a blowout loss to San Antonio. Lin had previously played in each game of the season.
July 9, 2015: Lin signs with the Charlotte Hornets
On July 9, 2015, Jeremy Lin signed a two-year, $4.3 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, who used their bi-annual exception in the deal. He was projected to back up Hornets point guard Kemba Walker.
2015: Lin Discusses Perceptions of Asians in Sports
In 2015, Jeremy Lin told Pablo S. Torre in ESPN The Magazine, that perceptions of Asians affected his reputation as a player who was turnover-prone or unable to use both hands, despite statistics showing improvement in these areas. He also noted his reputation as a poor defender lacking speed, while his former coach stated he was one of the quickest athletes they had worked with. Lin felt his performance with the Knicks may have received excessive publicity due to his ethnicity, and that Asians don't get the respect they deserve in sports.
March 21, 2016: Lin leads Hornets to comeback victory over San Antonio
On March 21, 2016, Jeremy Lin scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead jumper with 48 seconds remaining, to help Charlotte rally from a 30–7 deficit in the second quarter for a 91–88 comeback victory over San Antonio.
July 1, 2016: Lin becomes an unrestricted free agent
On July 1, 2016, Jeremy Lin became an unrestricted free agent after declining his $2.2 million player option for the 2016–17 season.
July 7, 2016: Lin signs with the Brooklyn Nets
On July 7, 2016, Jeremy Lin signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets, led by head coach Kenny Atkinson.
July 2016: Resentment towards Lin
In July 2016, former Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni recalled that some players on the Knicks resented Lin during the Linsanity period, an account corroborated by Lin's former Knicks teammate Amar'e Stoudemire.
October 2016: Donates to Harvard University
In October 2016, Jeremy Lin donated $1 million to Harvard University to support undergraduate financial aid and renovations to Lavietes Pavilion.
October 26, 2016: Lin debuts for the Brooklyn Nets
On October 26, 2016, Jeremy Lin made his debut for the Brooklyn Nets in their season opener against the Boston Celtics, scoring 18 points in a 122–117 loss.
December 12, 2016: Lin returns to action after hamstring strain
On December 12, 2016, Jeremy Lin returned to action for Brooklyn after missing time due to a strained left hamstring. He scored 10 points in a 122–118 loss to the Houston Rockets.
2016: Formation of J.Storm Dota 2 Team
In 2016, Jeremy Lin formed his own professional Dota 2 team, known as J.Storm.
2016: Stars in Comedy Central's Viralocity
In 2016, Jeremy Lin starred in an episode of the Comedy Central series Viralocity, playing a heightened version of himself.
2016: Lin Reflects on Linsanity and Race
In 2016, after returning to New York City, Jeremy Lin stated that "Linsanity" likely wouldn't have been as significant if he were of a different skin color, benefiting him in some ways, but also acknowledging that stereotypes created obstacles to getting opportunities.
February 24, 2017: Lin returns to Nets' starting lineup
On February 24, 2017, Jeremy Lin was back in the starting lineup for the Brooklyn Nets after missing 26 games with a hamstring strain. He scored seven points in a 129–109 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
April 6, 2017: Lin scores a season-high 32 points
On April 6, 2017, Jeremy Lin scored a season-high 32 points in a 115–107 loss to the Orlando Magic.
October 18, 2017: Lin suffers season-ending injury
On October 18, 2017, during the Nets' season opener against the Indiana Pacers, Jeremy Lin suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
2017: Impact of patellar tendon injury
In June 2019, Jeremy Lin acknowledged that his 2017 patellar tendon injury continued to limit his athleticism and affect his ability to drive to the basket.
July 13, 2018: Lin traded to the Atlanta Hawks
On July 13, 2018, Jeremy Lin was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, along with draft picks, in exchange for the draft rights to Isaia Cordinier and a future second-round pick. He was acquired to mentor rookie point guard Trae Young.
February 11, 2019: Hawks waive Lin
On February 11, 2019, the Atlanta Hawks waived Jeremy Lin after finalizing a buyout.
February 13, 2019: Lin signs with the Toronto Raptors
On February 13, 2019, Jeremy Lin signed with the Toronto Raptors after clearing waivers, joining a playoff contender.
May 28, 2019: Releases Music Video with MC Jin
On May 28, 2019, Jeremy Lin collaborated with rapper MC Jin on the single "The First Opponent", and the music video was released on YouTube.
August 2019: Signed with Beijing Ducks
In August 2019, Jeremy Lin left the NBA and signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
August 27, 2019: Lin signs with the Beijing Ducks
On August 27, 2019, Jeremy Lin signed with the Beijing Ducks of the CBA for a reported $3 million per year.
2019: NBA Championship with Toronto Raptors
In 2019, Jeremy Lin became the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship, achieving this milestone with the Toronto Raptors.
February 1, 2020: CBA postpones season due to COVID-19
On February 1, 2020, the CBA postponed the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 2020: Donation and Stance Against Racism Related to COVID-19
In February 2020, Jeremy Lin donated ¥1 million (approximately $144,370) to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spoke out against racism related to the outbreak, emphasizing compassion and empathy.
April 2020: Donates to COVID-19 Relief Efforts
In April 2020, Jeremy Lin donated $500,000 to Direct Relief and Feeding America to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pledged to match donations up to an additional $500,000 and encouraged unity in an article for The Players' Tribune.
May 2020: Speaks Out Against Anti-Asian Racism
During an NBA Together Virtual Roundtable in May 2020, Jeremy Lin further spoke out against anti-Asian racism, urging empathy, thoughtful communication, and calling out ignorant behavior.
May 2020: Knicks Re-broadcast Linsanity Games
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knicks re-broadcast a week of Linsanity games on the MSG Network, aiming to uplift New York City during a difficult time.
November 2020: Signature Shoe Released
In November 2020, Jeremy Lin, in partnership with Xtep, released a signature shoe called Xtep JLin One, which was available in Asia.
December 19, 2020: Warriors plan to sign and release Lin
Golden State planned to sign and release Jeremy Lin on December 19, 2020, to secure his G League rights for Santa Cruz, but they were initially unable to obtain a clearance letter from the Ducks.
2020: Santa Cruz announces addition of Lin
On January 9, 2021, Santa Cruz announced that Jeremy Lin had been added to their team for the 2020–21 season through the new NBA veteran exception rule.
January 9, 2021: Santa Cruz announces addition of Lin
On January 9, 2021, Santa Cruz announced that Jeremy Lin had been added to their team for the 2020–21 season through the new NBA veteran exception rule.
February 2021: Lin Speaks Out Against Asian Hate
In February 2021, Jeremy Lin was called "coronavirus" by a fellow G League player, prompting him to speak out against anti-Asian sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasize the importance of education.
May 26, 2021: Harvard Class Day Speaker
On May 26, 2021, Jeremy Lin addressed the graduating class of Harvard College as their Class Day speaker.
June 11, 2021: Lin returns to the Beijing Ducks
On June 11, 2021, Jeremy Lin announced that he was returning to the Beijing Ducks in the CBA.
2021: Played with Warriors' development team
In 2021, Jeremy Lin played with the Warriors' development team, attempting to return to the NBA.
December 2, 2022: Lin fined by CBA for inappropriate remarks
On December 2, 2022, Jeremy Lin was fined 10,000 yuan ($1,400) by the CBA for "inappropriate remarks about quarantine hotel-related facilities".
2022: Played with Guangzhou Loong Lions
In 2022, Jeremy Lin returned to the CBA and played with the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
January 2023: Marriage Announcement
In January 2023, Jeremy Lin announced on social media that he and his wife got married about two years prior, noting that she is of Filipino descent.
January 26, 2023: Lin signs with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
On January 26, 2023, Jeremy Lin signed with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers of the P. League+ in Taiwan, joining his brother, Joseph.
April 23, 2023: Lin records 50-point triple-double
On April 23, 2023, Jeremy Lin became the first player in Taiwan's PLG history to record a 50-point triple-double, with 50 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
September 19, 2023: Lin signs with the New Taipei Kings
On September 19, 2023, Jeremy Lin signed with the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+, joining his brother Joseph on the team.
2023: Joined PLG's Steelers
In 2023, Jeremy Lin left the Loong Lions midseason and joined PLG's Steelers.
August 23, 2024: Birth Announcement of Son
On August 23, 2024, Jeremy Lin announced via Instagram the birth of his son, who was born "a few months" earlier.
September 2, 2024: Lin extends contract with the New Taipei Kings
On September 2, 2024, Jeremy Lin signed a one-year player option contract extension with the New Taipei Kings of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL).
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