Jeremy Lin discusses the month that altered his life 10 years after ‘Linsanity’

In the short HBO documentary on Jeremy Lin’s remarkable ascension in the NBA, “38 at the Garden,” one of the more hilarious moments occurs when Lin recalls introducing himself to his New York Knicks colleague Tyson Chandler.

Lin had recently been waived by the Houston Rockets and claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks. Lin introduced himself to Chandler, the starting center, upon arriving at the team’s hotel, only to discover that Chandler did not recognize him. Chandler cautiously met Lin, believing, as Chandler says in the film, that “this tiny Asian kid” was a trespassing fan.

It is a revealing moment that illustrates how improbable Lin’s climb was.

Several weeks later, he was thrown into the rotation of a failing Knicks squad and immediately excelled, scoring 25 points off the bench to help New York defeat the then-New Jersey Nets. During a seven-game winning streak that resurrected the Knicks’ season and made him an international star, Lin averaged over 24 points and 9 assists per game.

Along the way, there were breathtaking moments, including breakaway dunks, opportune baskets, a game-winning shot, and, of course, 38 points in a dramatic victory over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, which inspired the title of the documentary.

Lin refused to discuss “Linsanity” for years, telling Insider that he was overwhelmed by the “superhero-like character” that his fans had given him.

In recent years, though, Lin, who is no longer in the NBA, has realized the significance of that period, particularly for Asian-Americans. In view of the recent spike in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, “38 at the Garden” gives considerable emphasis to the Asian-American experience, which is particularly devastating.

“As time passed, I believe I began to comprehend why this moment was so significant to so many people, as well as gaining more life experience,” Lin told Insider.

A months-long burst of adrenaline

Lin’s success was worthy of a Hollywood movie. He was a Harvard graduate and undrafted guard. His career was in shambles when the Knicks acquired him, and his future was uncertain: his breakout game against the Nets occurred the day before he was to be released. Prior to that, he had slept on teammate Landry Fields’ couch since he had no other place to stay.

According to Lin in the documentary, his agent warned him that if he did not perform well against the Nets, he may never play in another NBA game.

“I was trying not to think about it, but if I were to get released, I think I would have wanted to take the remainder of the season off,” Lin told Insider, adding, “That would have made four different clubs that I had been a part of. And I believe I was so mentally exhausted by the voyage, the uncertainty, and the rejection that I was thinking, I’m not sure if I can join another team this season.”

The player Jeremy Lin.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Then, in an instant, Lin’s fame exploded. Beyond the chaos he was causing at Madison Square Garden, Lin was enjoying a level of stardom that few individuals could comprehend.

“There are so many odd occurrences,” Lin added, citing instances in which women sent him undergarments or told him they were engaged. Fans surrounded his residence and ambushed him from behind bushes.

“For them, they are merely attempting to meet me. However, I find it really frightening when they are sitting outside my home behind a bush.”

Lin described Linsanity as a prolonged adrenaline high lasting several months. He was featured on consecutive Sports Illustrated covers. He was named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine.

At Jeremy Lin’s games, adoring fan signs became routine.

Lin stated that he frequently recalls his 28-point, 14-assist performance against the Dallas Mavericks when asked about a less-obvious moment that stands out to him.

“That was the most assists I’ve ever recorded in my nine-year NBA career,” Lin said. “I believe the Mavericks were the reigning champions at the time. It was a lot of fun to go back and forth with Dirk Nowitzki in that game.”

An abrupt end to Linsanity

Linsanity came crashing down as quickly as it had begun. Despite the Knicks’ continued success, Lin’s numbers gradually declined. After 25 games as the team’s starting point guard, it was revealed that Lin had a torn meniscus, and he missed the rest of the season.

Lin’s debut occurred on February 6, 2012. His last game as a Knick came on March 23. The entire run lasted less than two months.

That absence seemingly set the stage for Lin’s departure. Carmelo Anthony reportedly disagreed with Mike D’Antoni’s coaching and Jeremy Lin’s expansive offensive role.

Mike Woodson eventually replaced D’Antoni after the latter’s resignation. Anthony prospered following the coaching change and Lin’s injury, scoring 29.8 points per game in the closing months of the season to lead the Knicks to the playoffs.

Chris Trotman/Getty Photographic

This offseason, Lin became a restricted free agent, which allowed the Knicks to match any offer he got in free agency. The Knicks have even fought for Lin’s “bird rights” by appealing to an arbitrator. However, the Knicks did not match Lin’s three-year, $25 million contract with the Rockets.

When asked if the Knicks should match the offer, Anthony infamously referred to it as “insane.” Lin departed the Knicks after a single season.

Lin is still uncertain about what transpired between him and Anthony, but he wishes they had communicated more effectively.

Lin told Insider, “I believe the most significant factor is that we never had any interpersonal dispute, such as me speaking to him and him speaking to me.” “Consequently, I was completely blindsided by it. I mean, I’m still not entirely sure what transpired, but if I could go back in time, the one thing I would do differently is to have more dialogues, more honest, open conversations early and often, and to establish trust and relational equity.”

Subsequently, Lin assumed the role of a journeyman. He played for the Rockets for two seasons, averaging 13 points per game. He then played for the Lakers, the Charlotte Hornets, the Brooklyn Nets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Toronto Raptors.

Jeremy Lin thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Hornets.

Rocky Widner/NBAE courtesy of Getty Images

Lin told Insider that it hurts him somewhat that his reputation rests almost completely on a few weeks of All-Star-caliber performance. Lin is especially happy of his 2015-16 season with the Hornets, when the club exceeded expectations and made the playoffs, which he describes as “special.”

Lin’s dispute with the NBA.
In 2019, Jeremy Lin played sparingly for the Raptors.

Lin is also unhappy with how his NBA career concluded. In 2019, he was traded from the Hawks to the Raptors. Lin performed poorly with the Raptors and was benched for the majority of their championship-winning postseason run against the Warriors. Lin has stated in public that he does not believe he deserved that win.

Lin was a free agent during the offseason and was unable to secure a contract. He has subsequently played in the G League in China, but he believes the NBA made a hasty assessment of him.

Lin stated, “I had a 12-game run when I played poorly, and that was all.” “You would think that after nine years in the league, I would have a reputation and people would be aware of my abilities. But I was rather astonished by how quickly people said, “Okay, he’s done.””

Lin claimed he “begged” for an invitation to a non-guaranteed training camp, but was denied.

“Taking everything into account, I would believe that race has a factor in this,” Lin told Insider. My instinct tells me that race unquestionably plays a part, but I’m unsure of the magnitude.

Lin has inked a contract to play for the Chinese Basketball Association’s Guangzhou Loong Lions.

Lin, now 34 years old, told Insider that he used to want to “escape” from Linsanity’s shadow. Lin explains in “38 in the Garden” why the event was so significant to people, particularly Asian-Americans.

“It was a moment of valor. It was a time that so many people had not yet encountered, but desired to. Hollywood and the world lacked these heroic moments “Lin states in the movie.

It was significantly larger than basketball.

“38 at the Garden” is available on HBO Max for streaming.