An Uphill Battle : the Incredible Story Behind Linsanity
Ming Qin is the Director of Resources and a rising junior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut.
At the turn of the century, in the sun-bathed city of Palo Alto, California, a young boy named Jeremy Lin was tracing the invisible lines of his destiny. Born to Taiwanese immigrants, Lin’s journey was a saga destined to resonate with the echoes of defying odds and pursuing passions. Lin's parents, Gie-Ming and Shirley Lin, embarked on their journey to America in the mid-1970s, leaving behind the familiar landscapes of Taiwan for the gleaming promise of Silicon Valley. As the Bay Area thrummed with the rhythm of technology and ventures, Jeremy Lin found a different beat, a rhythm that echoed on the hardwood floors of local basketball courts.
Gie-Ming, who was a self-taught basketball player, noticed Jeremy’s interest and started instilling in him the love for the game. He started coaching his three sons, including Jeremy, at the local YMCA. Shirley, also supportive of Jeremy’s love of basketball, helped form a junior basketball program in Palo Alto where he played. Importantly, she also worked with coaches to ensure his playing did not affect his academic performance.
Despite his talent, Lin’s basketball career was a saga of being perpetually overlooked. In high school, he was the spearhead of his team's charge to a state championship, captaining Palo Alto High School to a 32-1 record in his senior year and upsetting powerhouse Mater Dei for the state title. Come recruiting season, Lin sent his resume and highlights to all of the Ivy League schools, the University of California, Berkeley, and his dream schools, Stanford University and UCLA. Most schools preferred that he walk on rather than be actively recruited or offered an athletic scholarship. While Harvard and Brown guaranteed him a spot on their rosters, Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
Despite his outstanding performance in college, Lin was no stranger to racial slurs and ethnic discrimination, even from fellow Ivy League players.
Eventually, Lin chose his new battlefield at Harvard University, an institute known more for grooming presidents than NBA players. Though he was initially overlooked by the coaching staff, Lin proved his ability on the court, as his play evolved every year. By senior year, Lin’s performance had made an immense impact in the Ivy League, as he had been selected to multiple All-Ivy teams and shattered many school records. Yet, in 2010, he went undrafted in the NBA Draft.
In Lin, NBA scouts saw what The New York Times later described as “a smart passer with a flawed jump shot and a thin frame, who might not have the strength and athleticism to defend, create his own shot or finish at the rim in the N.B.A.” Interestingly, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni later described Lin as “one of the quickest players we’ve ever worked out.” Indeed, there has long been speculation that Lin's career has been adversely affected by stereotypes about the athletic prowess of Asian-Americans. “I know a lot of people say I'm 'deceptively athletic' and 'deceptively quick', and I'm not sure what's deceptive. But it could be the fact that I'm Asian-American,” said Lin later in a 2012 All-Star Weekend interview. “But I think that's fine. It's something that I embrace, and it gives me a chip on my shoulder. But I'm very proud to be Asian-American and I love it.”
Lin’s rocky start as a professional basketball player traces back to the Golden State Warriors G-League Team.
A sliver of opportunity finally presented itself in the form of a two-year deal with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors, On July 21, 2010. The San Francisco Bay Area, with its large Asian-American population, celebrated his arrival. He became the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. That said, Lin was only getting minimal minutes on the court with limited responsibilities.
After bouncing around on a few teams, Lin was signed to the New York Knicks on December 27, 2011, after other players of the same position suffered injuries. The Knicks claimed Lin off of waivers to be a backup behind two other guards. Lin recalled being signed as the “12th to 15th guy on the roster.” During this period, Lin had to crash with his brother, who studied at NYU, and later on, his teammates. Despite the circumstances, Lin persevered and continued to work on his play.
Knicks teammate Landry Fields posted a photo on Twitter of the couch Lin slept on the night before he set off Linsanity with a 25 point, seven assist effort in a Knicks win against the Nets Feb. 4: “Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only couch made famous by @JLin7!” Fields, a Knicks guard, wrote. “Let the bidding begin ..”
The fulcrum of his destiny pivoted in February 2012. The Knicks, marred by a losing streak and depleted by injuries, turned to their bench. Coach Mike D’Antoni took a chance on Lin, an opportunity Lin grasped with an iron grip. A sublime performance followed, as he orchestrated a spectacular victory for the Knicks, igniting the global phenomenon known as “Linsanity.”
Over the following weeks, he consistently delivered performances that not only solidified his place in the NBA but also inspired countless Asian-Americans. Scoring 38 points against Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, sinking the game-winning shot to beat the Toronto Raptors… In a stretch of less than ten games, Jeremy recorded multiple iconic performances at the highest level of basketball. He went on to have a successful career as a consistent contributor to any team he played on, finally winning a NBA championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. Even following his exit from the NBA, Jeremy continued to shine overseas, playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, and most recently, returning to his roots as a player in the Taiwanese Plus League, where he continues to excite crowds and set records. His success, in a domain where Asian faces were far and few between, smashed stereotypes, paving the way for countless others.
During Linsanity, the New York Knicks went on a seven-game winning streak that shocked the sports world, establishing Lin’s status as an icon of Asian American representation.
Yet, Lin’s story isn't merely about his meteoric rise to stardom or his athletic prowess. Linsanity is a testament to the power of resilience, underscoring that with unwavering dedication and unyielding grit, one can ascend to unimaginable heights. His story inspired millions, particularly Asian-American youth, teaching them that their dreams could be boundless, that their talents could shatter stereotypes, and that with resilience, they could transcend any barrier. His unique journey to stardom will remain a timeless narrative in the annals of sports history, a reminder that regardless of one’s origins or circumstances, dreams remain valid.
