Jeremy Lin retires: Throwback to Linsanity vs Kobe Bryant; when Black Mamba was in awe of Knicks star

Jeremy Lin is ending the Linsanity. The 37-year-old former NBA star announced on Saturday that he is retiring in an emotional message on social media.

Updated on: Aug 31, 2025 7:33 AM IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Jeremy Lin is ending the Linsanity. The 37-year-old former NBA star announced on Saturday that he is retiring. In an emotional message on Instagram, Lin said he is looking forward to what comes next. Now, fans are sharing throwback videos of Lin and Kobe Bryant's chemistry on and off the court.

Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin were teammates at the Lakers (X)

“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,” Lin posted on social media.

“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,” he further added.

The Linsanity

Lin’s ascent from an undrafted Harvard graduate to an NBA sensation peaked during the 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks. After stints with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, he seized a starting role amid injuries, leading the Knicks to a seven-game win streak.

However, Jeremy Lin peaked in a game against Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers. He erupted for a career-high 38 points, outscoring the five-time champion’s 34 in a 92-85 victory.

Bryant, initially dismissive in pre-game comments, “I didn’t even know what he had done", later praised Lin’s skill, saying, “Players playing that well don’t usually come out of nowhere."

Lin and Bryant were teammates in Los Angeles, too. The former once recalled a car ride with the Black Mamba.

"When we were teammates he just briefly mentioned it," Lin recalled in an interview with GQ Sports.

“He was like, 'Dude, I couldn't believe you did that. And after you did that, that's when I had a lot of respect for you.'”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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