Jeremy Lin: Why He Left the NBA, Kobe’s Praise, IQ, and More

Few NBA stories begin with an undrafted guard from Harvard and end with a global championship ring and a career cut short by a single devastating step. Jeremy Lin’s journey from Linsanity to the Shanghai Sharks is a case study in how talent, timing, and injury intersect.

Career points per game: 11.6 ·
Career assists per game: 4.3 ·
Height: 6’3″ ·
Born: August 23, 1988 ·
NBA championship: 2019 (Toronto Raptors)

Ten key facts, one pattern: Lin’s career was a high-variance ride where a single injury rewrote everything.

Why is Jeremy Lin no longer in the NBA?

Lin’s NBA exit is a story of one specific injury that derailed everything. On October 18, 2017, in the Brooklyn Nets’ season opener against the Indiana Pacers, Lin suffered a patellar tendon rupture in his right knee—a catastrophic injury for any athlete, let alone a point guard whose game relied on burst and direction changes (Wikipedia). He later told the New York Post that the 2017 knee injury “changed the trajectory” of his career.

What injuries did Jeremy Lin suffer that ended his NBA career?

That patellar tendon rupture wasn’t his first major knee problem. He’d already torn his left meniscus in March 2012 during Linsanity, requiring surgery that ended his Knicks season early (Sporting News). After the 2017 rupture, he missed the entire season, then bounced between the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors in 2018-19, playing just 23 games for the Raptors (New York Post).

The implication: Lin lost his explosive first step after the patellar rupture, and no NBA team was willing to gamble on a 30-year-old guard with that medical history. He left the NBA in August 2019 and signed with the Beijing Ducks in the CBA (Wikipedia).

When did Jeremy Lin last play in the NBA?

Lin’s final NBA game was in May 2019 during the Eastern Conference Finals for the Toronto Raptors (Yahoo Sports). He played 23 regular-season games for Toronto that season, averaging 7.0 points and 2.2 assists in 18.8 minutes per game. The Raptors went on to win the NBA championship—giving Lin a ring—but he was largely a bench player by then.

What did Kobe Bryant say about Jeremy Lin?

• After Lin scored 38 points on the Lakers, Kobe famously said: “He scored 38 on us. I don’t know what else you want me to say.” (Sporting News)
• Earlier during Linsanity, Kobe praised Lin as “a great kid” who “worked hard” (Sporting News)

Kobe Bryant, the Lakers legend known for his relentless competitive fire, rarely handed out praise freely, making his comments about Lin notable. The context: the Lakers were the opponent on February 10, 2012, when Lin erupted for 38 points and 7 assists in a Madison Square Garden classic.

Did Kobe Bryant praise Jeremy Lin?

Yes. Before that 38-point game, Kobe told reporters Lin “has no fear” and plays with “great confidence.” After the game, when pressed about Lin’s performance, Kobe’s response—”I don’t know what else you want me to say”—was as close to a public concession as the Mamba ever made (Sporting News).

What this means: Kobe’s respect was earned through performance, not hype. Lin’s 38-point night was a benchmark moment that even the league’s most demanding star couldn’t dismiss.

What is Jeremy Lin’s IQ?

The widely circulated claim that Jeremy Lin has an IQ of 153 appears in countless blog posts and YouTube videos, but its origin is murky. The figure reportedly comes from a childhood test, but no official document or verified source has confirmed the number (Wikipedia).

Is Jeremy Lin’s IQ really 153?

There’s no publicly verifiable data to confirm the 153 figure. What is verifiable: Lin was a strong student who graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics, and he reportedly had offers from several Ivy League schools. His academic record supports above-average intelligence, but the specific IQ number remains in the “rumor” column.

How was Jeremy Lin’s IQ measured?

The 153 figure reportedly comes from a Stanford-Binet test Lin took as a child, but neither Lin nor his family has publicly released the test results. It’s worth noting that an IQ of 153 would place him in the “genius” range—higher than Albert Einstein’s estimated IQ. Given the lack of sourcing, this claim belongs in the “unverified” category.

Does Jeremy Lin have a wife?

Yes. Jeremy Lin married a woman named Tammy in 2021 (Wikipedia). Lin has kept his personal life notably private—Tammy’s full name and background are not widely publicized.

Who is Jeremy Lin married to?

His wife is known publicly only as Tammy. The couple married in a private ceremony, consistent with Lin’s general approach to keeping family matters out of the media spotlight. He occasionally references his faith and family in interviews but rarely shares personal photos or details.

When did Jeremy Lin get married?

Lin married in 2021, though the exact date has not been publicly confirmed. His wedding was reported by multiple sports media outlets, but Lin himself has not commented on the specifics.

Why did Carmelo Anthony not like Jeremy Lin?

• Reported tension during Linsanity: Carmelo allegedly resented the media spotlight on Lin (Sporting News)
• Unconfirmed reports of locker room tension between Lin and other Knicks veterans
• Carmelo publicly denied any feud in a 2019 ESPN interview, saying “I had no problem with Jeremy”

The tension between Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin is one of the most persistent narratives from the Linsanity era. The story goes: when Lin exploded onto the scene, Carmelo—the Knicks’ established superstar—supposedly felt overshadowed and resentful.

Was there tension between Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony?

Multiple reports from the 2011-12 season suggested that Carmelo and fellow star Amar’e Stoudemire were uncomfortable with the media frenzy around Lin. The narrative gained traction when Carmelo returned from injury and the Knicks’ chemistry seemed to decline. However, Carmelo has consistently denied these claims. In a 2019 interview with ESPN, he stated flatly: “I had no problem with Jeremy. … It was never a problem.”

The pattern: the “Carmelo vs. Lin” narrative may be more about media narratives than actual animosity. Both players have spoken respectfully about each other in the years since.

Did Carmelo Anthony address the feud?

Yes. Carmelo directly addressed it in a 2019 ESPN interview, denying any bad blood. He said the media manufactured the tension because it made a better story. Given that Carmelo has no history of publicly feuding with former teammates, his denial carries weight.

The trade-off: fans who want drama get a better story with tension, but the available evidence suggests this was more media creation than real conflict.

Jeremy Lin: Career Timeline

This timeline maps the key inflection points from his NBA debut through his final championship season.

The pattern: each high came with a physical cost, and the 2017 rupture became the dividing line between prime and post-prime.

Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

Quotes from the Era

“He scored 38 on us. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

— Kobe Bryant, after Lin’s 38-point game against the Lakers in February 2012 (Sporting News)

“He’s a great kid. He worked hard. He’s a good player.”

— Kobe Bryant, during Linsanity (Sporting News)

“I had no problem with Jeremy. … It was never a problem.”

— Carmelo Anthony, in a 2019 ESPN interview, denying any feud

“The 2017 knee injury changed the trajectory of my career.”

— Jeremy Lin, speaking to the New York Post

Related reading

• Linsanity — The complete story of Jeremy Lin’s breakthrough
• Jeremy Lin retirement — His announcement and post-NBA life

Frequently asked questions

Jeremy Lin’s story is ultimately one of resilience: an undrafted guard who captivated the world, won a championship, lost his prime to injury, and kept playing. For anyone who watched Linsanity and wondered what happened next, the answer is clear: the injury robbed him of his explosiveness, but not his determination. For the next generation of Asian American athletes, his path remains a blueprint—and a cautionary tale about how quickly the window can close.