Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is a Taiwanese-American former professional basketball player known for his significant impact on Asian American representation in sports. Lin is the first person of Chinese or Taiwanese descent born in the United States to play in the NBA and is among the few Asian Americans to have competed in the league. His basketball journey began at Harvard University, where he became a three-time all-conference player in the Ivy League. Lin finished his college career as the first player in Ivy League history to record at least 1,450 points, 450 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics.

After going undrafted in the NBA Draft, Lin was signed by the Golden State Warriors. Following stints with the Warriors and Houston Rockets, he joined the New York Knicks. When inserted as a starter, Lin delivered a series of high-scoring performances, becoming the first NBA player to score at least 20 points and record seven assists in each of his first five starts. His point totals in his initial starts set records for the post-ABA-NBA merger era. The global attention that followed was dubbed "Linsanity," as Lin averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists per game in 12 starts before the All-Star break, helping New York to a 9–3 record. Lin's presence on the court challenged stereotypes and expanded the conversation around Asian Americans in professional basketball.

Lin played nine seasons with eight NBA teams, averaging 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds over 480 regular-season games. He became the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship, achieving this with the Toronto Raptors. Lin's story has been chronicled in documentary films, including "Linsanity," directed by Evan Jackson Leong, and the HBO film "38 at the Garden," which explores the broader cultural significance of his career. Lin also served as executive producer on "Ayo, Check Up!", a basketball-centered short film addressing mental health.

Lin continued his professional basketball career in China and Taiwan, joining the New Taipei Kings and leading the team to consecutive championships in both the P.LEAGUE+ and the Taiwan Professional Basketball League. He was named the TPBL regular season Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP, averaging 22.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.9 steals. Lin ultimately retired from professional basketball, concluding a 15-year career.

Off the court, Lin has focused on philanthropy and advocacy. He launched the Jeremy Lin Foundation, with initiatives such as "The Making a Difference Project" and the Stronger Together Collaborative, supporting low-income pan-AAPI youth programs. Lin has also founded JLIN LLC, a company managing partnerships and investments in the U.S. and Asia, and served as an honorary head coach at the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars game. In 2026, he joined ESPN's NBA Finals coverage team as an analyst. Lin's career and advocacy have made him a prominent figure in basketball and a leading voice for Asian American representation in sports and beyond.