Jeremy Lin has officially called it a career.
Veteran point guard and Raptors champion Jeremy Lin retires
Lin would reveal the news on his official Instagram page on August 30, with a heartfelt video and accompanying message, to which it reads in parts English and Traditional Chinese:
"As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away. I’ve spent my 15 year career knowing that one day I would have to walk away, and yet actually saying goodbye to basketball today has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made.via @jlin7 on Instagram
It's been the honor of a lifetime to compete against the fiercest competitors under the brightest lights and to challenge what the world thought was possible for someone who looks like me. I've lived out my wildest childhood dreams to play in front of fans all around the world. I will forever be the kid who felt fully alive everytime I touched a basketball.
So many people have sacrificed and poured into my journey, more than I could ever repay. Thank you all for believing in me, for walking with me, for celebrating my highs and picking me up in my lows. This is a ride I never wanted to end but I know it’s time. I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all but our time will go beyond just playing. Here’s to what’s ahead.
Love you all ❤️"
He took the basketball world by storm, and while it only lasted for a short period, I doubt those who witnessed the sensation that was "Linsanity" will ever forget it. I remember being in middle school at that time, and even though we were just junior hoopers, I couldn't believe what this guy on the Knicks I’d never heard of before was doing on the biggest stage ... all my friends were talking about him.
Though just as soon as the Jeremy Lin rocket (pun kinda intended) took off, his star largely diminished due to a combination of an abrupt coaching change, locker room drama, and injury setbacks. He'd find new NBA homes in Houston, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Atlanta, and finally Toronto, where Lin would close out his NBA career.
After agreeing to a buyout with the Hawks, Toronto picked up Lin off waivers to add some veteran guard depth to their roster. However, Lin wouldn't quite find his footing in Toronto, largely serving as the team’s third-string point guard behind franchise legend Kyle Lowry and the slowly ascending Fred VanVleet. Regardless of Lin’s impact (or lack thereof), he was still part of the Raptors' iconic 2019 championship squad, which capped off an absolute whirlwind NBA career with the sport’s ultimate prize.
Lin would bounce around from playing in Asia and the G League in the years following his title win, never signing with another NBA team since last joining the Raptors in 2019. Now over six years later and officially stepping away from the game, Lin's NBA legacy will be closely linked with the Raptors, not only for that iconic 2012 Valentine's Day buzzer beater in Toronto, but because his name is forever etched in the championship banner that hangs atop the Scotiabank Arena.