It’s onerous to imagine this month marks 14 years since a 23-year-old Taiwanese-American level guard named Jeremy Lin took New York and the whole sports activities world by storm, placing collectively a two-week stretch of basketball for the Knicks that was as inconceivable because it was inspiring.
It was actually a second in time in basketball, and one of many final occasions when it felt like there was true unity within the sports activities world round a desired final result. Everybody was rooting for the unlikely hero to rehabilitate professional basketball in essentially the most related metropolis on the planet, and for a two-week span, it actually did really feel like we had been all merely residing inside Lin’s private NBA 2K MyCareer save.
The Basis
Lin, who went undrafted in 2010 after a standout profession at Harvard, spent his first stint within the NBA with the Golden State Warriors as a reserve to Monta Ellis and a younger Stephen Curry. The seeds for Lin’s run as a entrance web page star had been planted on the very begin of his time with the Warriors, as he developed a passionate fanbase among the many sizeable Asian-American group within the Bay Space. Many within the Bay Space heard about him main Palo Alto Excessive College to a CIF state title and NorCal Participant of the Yr honors by Cal-Hello Sports activities. Nonetheless, Lin made simply 29 appearances with the group earlier than being waived within the weeks forward of the lockout-delayed 2011-12 season.
Days after being waived by Golden State in December 2011, Lin landed in Houston for a cup of espresso with the Rockets. He was out nearly as quickly as he got here in, nevertheless, and his profession was rapidly descending down the trail of a participant who acquired to put on an NBA uniform for a couple of seasons earlier than quietly exiting the league.
Welcome To New York
Thankfully for Lin, the late begin to the season left a number of groups (together with the Knicks) in a determined place for an additional reserve participant to shore up their bench unit. The thrill that Lin generated throughout his time in Golden State saved his popularity moderately excessive in league circles, so the Knicks rapidly picked him up with the intention of both releasing him or sending him to the D-League as soon as their regular guard rotation was again to full power.
After Lin debuted and made a collection of preliminary appearances with New York that December, the entrance workplace selected the latter choice and despatched him right down to the developmental outfit in Erie. Lin appeared like the proper instance of an archetype that’s a bit extra frequent these days, the nice faculty participant who’s clearly too dominant for the D-League however not ok to have a significant presence within the NBA. Nonetheless, the Knicks valued Lin’s intangibles and saved him of their system with the assumption that they wanted his companies at a later date.
As destiny would have it, that date would come sooner fairly than later. Nonetheless coping with a flurry of accidents that was now compounding right into a season-threatening meltdown, Lin was once more known as as much as the principle roster. This time, although, his spot with the group was in extreme hazard because the entrance workplace looked for quick solutions to cease what was turning right into a disastrous skid.
As his group’s freefall continued and no fast roster fixes offered themselves, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was left with no selection however to provide the child Lin a shot. And man, did that shot ever flip right into a spark for a group and a fanbase that so desperately wanted it. Let’s mirror.
February 4, 2012: Linsanity Begins
With the Knicks having misplaced 11 of their final 13 video games with All-Star Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets coming to the Backyard, the Knicks thinning roster availability left D’Antoni no selection however to provide a pair of reserves 30+ minutes off the bench in assist of stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire. Some names on the DNP record for the Knicks that evening? How about Baron Davis and Mike Bibby? Yup. Renaldo Balkman, too.
Energy ahead Jared Jeffries did a strong job together with his prolonged minutes, scoring 9 factors on 4-of-10 capturing whereas hauling in 10 boards. Lin’s minutes that evening modified the course of the Knicks season. He scored 25 factors on 10-of-19 capturing, along with shelling out seven assists and 5 rebounds whereas additionally notching two steals on the defensive finish. Regardless of Carmelo leaving the sport early on account of damage, Lin’s efficiency led the Knicks to a well timed 99-92 victory and put a halt to their latest tumble.
Day 1 of LINSANITY began 14 years in the past immediately
Jeremy Lin was days from being reduce & solely performed as a result of the Knicks had been on a back-to-back-to-back. He scored a game-high 25 off the bench vs All-Star Deron Williams.
Audio: @RingerNBA pic.twitter.com/5mAuybZOuw
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 4, 2026
Feb. 6, 2012: No Stars, No Drawback
D’Antoni rewarded Lin for his heroics in opposition to New Jersey by giving him his first profession begin in opposition to the Utah Jazz two nights later, however basketball was the very last thing on the Knicks’ thoughts heading into the Backyard that evening. The sudden dying of Stoudemire’s brother, Hazell, in a automobile accident earlier that morning despatched shockwaves by way of the group and sidelined the All-Star for the sport that night. An off-night on the court docket would have been greater than acceptable, even perhaps anticipated, for a group that was making an attempt to rally behind one among their brothers for a a lot bigger objective off of it.
The ambiance within the Backyard grew to become much more subdued as Carmelo left the sport halfway by way of the primary quarter with a strained proper groin and didn’t return, an damage that led to a seven-game absence that served as one of many predominant catalysts behind Lin’s prolonged utilization over the course of the next weeks. On this evening, with each of the Knicks greatest gamers absent, Lin tallied 28 factors and dished out eight assists, topping the profession highs he set in each classes in opposition to the Nets.
Feb. 8, 2012: First Profession Double-Double
With Melo and Amare out for the Knicks, Lin was rapidly thrust into the position of the Knicks’ high offensive choice heading right into a important stretch. Not that he hadn’t already accomplished so within the earlier two video games, however with a beginning lineup that featured fringe position gamers in Jeffries, Henry Martin and Landry Fields, it was apparent Lin needed to be the man D’antoni and the Knicks might rely on to facilitate issues.
Lin continued to make the most of his rising alternatives, tallying an environment friendly double-double with 23 factors (9-of-14 capturing) and 10 assists. He did get slightly little bit of assist that evening, as Tyson Chandler tallied 25 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Steve Novak scored 19 factors whereas making 5-of-9 3-point makes an attempt off the bench.
Feb. 10, 2012: Kobe, Meet Jeremy
Earlier than Lin and the Knicks made their foray into Hollywood for a date in opposition to the legendary Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, the five-time NBA champion didn’t appear very phased by the prospect of dealing with New York’s out-of-nowhere star. Whereas being questioned about Lin at morning shootaround, Kobe requested the encircling media who Lin was and what he was doing that was so particular, and whereas he wasn’t disrespectful about it, it was clear that Kobe didn’t essentially have a goal circled on Lin’s again.
After listening to Kobe’s feedback on the way in which to the Staples Heart, Lin has usually stated that he knew proper then and there he was going to let the photographs fly and make Kobe be aware of who he was that evening. Whereas there was already vital media consideration on Lin’s rising stardom, the efficiency he placed on in opposition to the game’s lively patron saint at that time was what drove the entrance web page push into overdrive. The 23-year-old outduelled Bryan in a 92-85 win, scoring 38 factors on 13-of-23 capturing whereas Bryant tallied a far much less environment friendly 34 factors.
Protected to say Kobe discovered the child’s title that evening.
14 YEARS AGO TODAYJeremy Lin scored 38 POINTS in opposition to Kobe & the Lakers at MSG.
Spike Lee after the sport: “Yo LA, I betcha Kobe is aware of who Jeremy Lin is now. Lin sliced and diced ya ass for 38. Jeremy ‘Cease Asian Profi-‘ Lin.” pic.twitter.com/jPXHgBBpTN
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 10, 2026
Feb. 11, 2012: Stacking Shorthanded Wins
At this level, the Knicks had been now driving a four-game win streak since Lin joined the rotation and had received the final three with out both of their greatest gamers. With Carmelo and Amare out once more at Minnesota, Lin fired off a then-career-high 24 shot makes an attempt, however made simply eight of them, ending with 20 factors. Nonetheless, regardless of posting essentially the most inefficient capturing efficiency since his insertion into the lineup, Lin nonetheless discovered methods to create for his teammates and dished out eight assists to assist push the Knicks to a fifth straight win in a slim two-point victory.
Fields and Novak additionally served as unlikely heroes for New York within the win, as Fields scored 16 factors on 8-of-10 capturing, whereas Novak tallied 19 factors on one other 5-of-9 capturing evening from past the arc.
Feb. 14, 2012: With Love, Toronto
Valentine’s Day 2012, for all intents and functions, was the height of Linsanity. With the whole sports activities world now fixated on the Hollywood script unfolding in New York, the Knicks had been tasked with taking over a Raptors group in Toronto that was nonetheless a couple of seasons away from meaningfully contending within the East. It was additionally a particular recreation for Lin due to the sizeable Asian fan and media presence in Toronto, a metropolis that had already embraced him although he hadn’t (but) worn their jersey. Even when Lin got here to city as a comparatively unknown reserve on the Warriors, he attracted extra of a media presence in Toronto than among the NBA’s largest stars.
For the primary three quarters, nevertheless, it didn’t fairly really feel like Lin was channeling the power of an opposing crowd that was extra in awe of him than in opposition to him. The Knicks trailed by 17 factors within the first half, and Lin was monitoring towards one other inefficient capturing efficiency. However to have true Linsanity, you wanted slightly little bit of the unbelievable. That’s precisely what Lin’s fourth quarter was.
Lin tallied 12 of his 27 factors within the fourth, as many factors because the Raptors had collectively. After forcing the Knicks to scratch and claw their technique to an 87-87 stalemate on their final possession, Lin took the ball on the high of the important thing with about 13 seconds left, signaled for the iso, and patiently waited for his alternative as he at all times has. With two seconds left, Lin heaved the ball towards the basket. With .5 seconds left, it sailed by way of the underside of the online, and essentially the most iconic second in an iconic run was born. 90-87, Knickerbockers. Six in a row
14 YEARS AGO TODAYJeremy Lin’s game-winning 3 in Toronto throughout Linsanity!
He additionally scored 12 of his 27 PTS within the 4th quarter & dished out 11 AST within the 17-point comeback win. pic.twitter.com/XZKym3RdpH
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 14, 2026
Feb. 15, 2012: Knicks Win Once more Regardless of Quiet Evening
With the Sacramento Kings in New York for the second leg of the Knicks’ road-to-home back-to-back, the primary indicators of fatigue from the earlier 11 days began appearing in Lin’s recreation. Lin tried simply six photographs within the recreation, though he made 4 of them and completed with 10 factors. He was nonetheless each little bit of himself as a facilitator, nevertheless, tallying what was then a profession excessive 13 assists to assist push the Knicks to a 100-85 win over their struggling opponent. All in all, it was the Knicks’ most balanced efficiency as a group in the course of the Linsanity run, so it actually didn’t require Lin to be superhuman in all phases offensively. The win additionally introduced the Knicks file to .500 at 15-15 for the primary time since they began the season 2-2.
Feb. 17, 2012: The Successful Streak Lastly Ends
The Knicks needed to come again to earth sooner or later, and the time for that was a Friday evening showdown in opposition to the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Sq. Backyard. Precisely one week after Lin shot into superstardom together with his efficiency in opposition to Kobe and the Lakers, his 26-point efficiency on 8-of-18 capturing simply wasn’t sufficient to push the Knicks to an eighth straight victory.
This recreation additionally led to some media controversy, as ESPN printed a headline that tried to make a pun of Lin and the Knicks loss with a racial slur directed at Chinese language folks. That, in fact, solely added to the nationwide dialog surrounding Lin’s unlikely rise within the NBA. It additionally price the editor his job.
Feb. 19, 2012: Lin Bounces Again With Final Hurrah
We didn’t comprehend it but on the time, however the Knicks’ 104-97 win over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 19 could be the retrospective finish of what actually was “Linsanity”. That makes it much more poetic that Lin’s efficiency that night was arguably essentially the most full recreation of his profession, and because of this, it ended with the Knicks incomes their most spectacular victory of the whole run.
Lin tallied 28 factors and set his ultimate profession excessive in assists with 14, whereas additionally racking up a career-high 5 steals. Lin set the tone early, serving to the Knicks get out to a 12-point lead on the finish of the primary quarter earlier than mitigating the Mavericks’ transient second-quarter comeback effort. No different Knick even reached the 15-point mark that evening in opposition to a red-hot Dirk Nowitzki and firm, however Lin’s final nice effort of the run that bore his title allowed the group to emerge victorious regardless.
Lin was Lin.
28 factors. Profession-high 14 assists. W. #LinsanityWeek pic.twitter.com/EXM0BMCEuv
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) Might 2, 2020
Feb. 20, 2012 and past: Melo’s Return Ends Linsanity Run
As soon as Carmelo got here again from his eight-game absence in opposition to the Nets on Feb. 20, it was all however the finish of Linsanity. Lin was chosen as a particular entrant to the 2012 Rising Stars recreation on Feb. 24, however the Knicks had been actively en path to shedding eight of their subsequent 10 video games at that time. It grew to become frequent discuss present fodder responsible Carmelo for each the Knicks’ sudden skid and the eventual unceremonious finish to Lin’s tenure with the group. On March 14, D’antoni, who was arguably Lin’s largest proponent within the group, resigned as head coach and was changed with Mike Woodson, who took a decidedly pro-Carmelo strategy.
On March 24, Lin reported a knee damage to the Knicks’ medical workers and was subsequently identified with a season-ending left meniscus tear. Lin entered restricted free company that ensuing summer season and parted methods with New York, signing a 3-year, $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets that the Knicks declined to match. He would go on to play a decade within the NBA, profitable a championship with the Raptors in 2019, whereas incomes roughly $66 million in contract cash over the course of his profession.
