Jeremy Lin’s story is often told as a miracle. It is a true story, of course, about a kid from Palo Alto, California, who went undrafted out of Harvard and slept on his brother’s couch before becoming the most improbable star the New York Knicks had seen in decades. That tale is now a decade old. Today, a new chapter defines his legacy, one that exists far beyond the basketball court. His journey has become a surprising study in identity, a reluctant hero who grew to understand his public platform in a profound way. He has become an accidental advocate.
Lin was a symbol from the start. He was a pioneer. He was the first American player of Taiwanese and Chinese descent to play in the NBA. This position was a heavy weight. In a 2021 piece for Time, Lin wrote about his feelings during the “Linsanity” period. He said he just wanted to play basketball and not be a spokesperson.
“I didn’t do enough when I was ‘Linsanity’ to break down barriers for the next generation,” Lin wrote. “I just wanted to play basketball during that time in 2012 when I was suddenly thrust into the global spotlight with the New York Knicks. I didn’t recognize the built-up trauma and the multi-generational, systemic injustices. It’s one of my biggest failures and one of my biggest regrets.”
An Athlete’s Evolution from Reluctant Symbol to Voice of a Community
His early reluctance was a response to a lifetime of being seen for his race before his skill. Even during his magical run, the media did not let him forget. An ESPN editor published a headline that read, “Chink in the Armor,” after a Knicks loss. This was a classic sports cliché. But it carried a racial slur. The network fired the editor. Lin later had lunch with him. He said he did not believe the slur was intentional.
This was not an isolated incident. Lin often heard that he was “deceptively athletic” or “deceptively quick.” People had stereotypes. He had to fight them. It happened his entire life. Phil Yu, co-author of a book on Asian American pop culture, said Lin’s experience reflected a common one. “We’ve been that guy who’s completely underestimated, not just on the basketball court, not just in athletics, but in general,” Yu said.
@resonatevoices 🏀🇹🇼🏆 Jeremy Lin, the face of “Linsanity,” retires after 15 years, leaving behind NBA glory, Taiwan titles, and a legacy of breaking barriers 🇹🇼🏀🏆 #jeremylin #linsanity #nba #basketball #knicks
The need for his voice became urgent years later, far from the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a terrifying rise in anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States. It was during this time that Lin began to speak out publicly. The data showed how bad things were.
The organization Stop AAPI Hate reported over 10,905 hate acts against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from March 2020 to December 2021. This included acts of verbal harassment and physical assault. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found that anti-Asian hate crimes in 16 major U.S. cities increased by 145% in 2020. This happened even as overall hate crimes decreased by 6%.
This terrifying rise prompted Lin to act. He wrote essays. He posted on social media. He hosted a podcast with other prominent Asian Americans. He used his platform to highlight what was happening. His tone became less about his own experience and more about a larger call to action.
Many other Asian Americans saw themselves in his struggle. Actor Simu Liu, known for his work in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has often spoken about the importance of representation. His work, like Lin’s, challenges the idea that Asian men cannot be leading men.
Jeremy Lin’s influence helped pave the way for people like Liu. Jeff Yang, a journalist who has written extensively about Asian American culture, said Linsanity was a collective moment for the community. It was “the first time—and long before Crazy Rich Asians—that Asians found something that we could collectively celebrate and rally around,” he said.
Read more: Jeremy Lin Retires From Basketball, Closing the Chapter on “Linsanity”
Today, Lin’s advocacy is more organized. It is also more sophisticated. He works through the Jeremy Lin Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2011. It has evolved to focus on a new mission. It works with grassroots programs that serve low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. The foundation’s financial statements show its commitment, with over $1 million in charitable disbursements in 2023. His work goes beyond charity. It aims to build solidarity with other communities of color.
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Lin has moved from a star who was a symbol to an activist. He is now a leader whose work is built on understanding the long history of prejudice and the power of a united front. His journey from reluctant icon to a deliberate advocate offers a simple lesson. A platform, no matter how it is gained, carries a responsibility to use it for good.
To learn more about his work and support his mission, consider visiting the Jeremy Lin Foundation. You can explore its programs and find out how to contribute to its efforts in serving low-income AAPI youth and other youth of color.
