Jeremy Lin exploded onto the NBA scene with the New York Knicks during the 2011-2012 season.
This gave way to the famous time of Linsanity.
During the period known as #Linsanity (2011-12), @JLin7 scored a total of 89, 109, and 136 points in his first three, four, and five career-starts, respectively. All three totals are the most by any player since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976–77.
[via Crazy Stats/FB] pic.twitter.com/5sWJ6vvaJx
— BballWithinBorders (@bwb_within) December 11, 2020
Personally, I remember sitting at Madison Square Garden in amazement as Lin posted another 20-plus scoring performance.
This all started on February 4, when Lin stepped up with 36 minutes against the New Jersey Nets.
He scored 25 points, leading the team to just their third win in the last 14 games.
It didn’t stop there though.
On February 10, he put up 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, starting the craze of Linsanity.
Eight years ago today, Jeremy Lin put on a show at MSG vs. Kobe and the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/bZPtfxOL2P
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 10, 2020
He followed this game up with a game-winning three against the Toronto Raptors.
After a string of less than amazing games, Lin tore his meniscus at the end of March.
Just as quickly as it started, it ended.
Why was this?
What happened to the unknown guard from Harvard who burst onto the scene and captivated the hearts of fans everywhere?
After Linsanity
After Lin’s time with the Knicks came to a close, he went on a trip to different teams around the league.
The first of which was a starting job with the Houston Rockets.
Here, he was never quite able to live up to his Linsanity days, averaging just 13.4 points per game.
The next season, he was moved back to a bench role where he wasn’t horrible but wasn’t great.
That offseason, he signed with the Lakers and went on to shoot a career high from three.
Shoutout to Jeremy Lin. #BestOfLakersGrizzlies pic.twitter.com/T7PZFDDLp9
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 20, 2020
However, he saw a decrease in both minutes and points per game.
The next couple seasons was much of the same for Lin, as he averaged around 11 points in his bench role.
In the 2016-17 season, he saw a bump in his scoring output.
With less minutes than prior seasons, Lin averaged 14.5 points, his most since being on the Knicks.
However, this is when he was struck by injuries.
In the same 2016-17 season, Lin missed 46 games for the Nets due to injury.
The next season, he ruptured his patella tendon in the team’s opener.
He missed that entire year.
Finally, he was able to return to the NBA floor in 2018 where he struggled with both the Atlanta Hawks and Raptors, averaging just 9.6 points per game.
Lin Continued Career in China
After failing to have any opportunities in the U.S., Lin elected to restart his career in China.
Lin signed a contract with the Beijing Ducks in August 2019, looking to prove that he is still an NBA caliber player.
He played well overseas, averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 39 games.
With this performance, he proved to himself that he still has the ability to compete at a high level.
After the Chinese season ended this August, Lin elected to return to the U.S. in pursuit of an NBA contract.
“Been a huge off season for me and grateful for all things I’ve been adding to my game!” Lin said his offseason.
However, while there was reported interest in the 32-year-old, he was not signed.
Now, he is left waiting for a team to pick him up during this upcoming season.
While it may not have worked out this offseason, expect Lin to keep working to make it back.
Jeremy Lin putting in the work😳 pic.twitter.com/kLo6stifU4
— OubJay🌊 (@HeadbandJay) December 17, 2020
Though the former Linsanity star may have fallen from that stardom, he remains searching and fighting for a spot in the league.
