In February 2012, 23-year-old Jeremy Lin led the New York Knicks to a string of consecutive wins in the NBA, prompting fans to coin the term "Linsanity." How could an undrafted reserve player rise to worldwide fame in a single week? Numerous reports and stories have emerged about "Linsanity." Some claim it was a fleeting phenomenon, others say it was a matter of luck and timing, a matter of place and people, unremarkable. But the impossible became possible, and those involved deeply understood it to be a miracle.
Jeremy Lin's Basketball Journey
In December 2011, Jeremy Lin was waived by the Golden State Warriors and subsequently drafted and waived by the Houston Rockets. When he joined the New York Knicks, he was still confined to the bench, with no chance of even playing, let alone starting. Then his opportunity came, he seized it, and then he made history! At the end of August 2025, Jeremy Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball on Instagram:
"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.
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 every time I touched a basketball.
So many people have sacrificed and poured into my journey, more than I could ever repay. Thank you all for believing in me, for walking with me, for celebrating my highs and picking me up in my lows. This is a ride I never wanted to end but I know it’s time. I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all but our time will go beyond just playing. Here’s to what’s ahead. Love you all."
The Role of Basketball in Life
Basketball was once one of my favorite sports. Believe it or not, I made my high school team. Although we never won any games, I learned and practiced the sport I loved. In my 30s, working as a software engineering manager, I still played three-on-three basketball with my male colleagues under the scorching sun. I wasn't as tall, strong, or quick as them, but my shooting improved, earning me the nickname "Downtown Winnis." This was because I had a 6-foot-7 colleague to protect me, and the other colleagues tried their best not to bump into me. Looking back, that is grace.
I also enjoyed playing basketball with young people, especially my own son. When he was ten, my husband James and I took him on a short-term mission trip to an Indian reservation. The team members consisted primarily of high school students, their youth counselors, and a few parents. Before the trip ended, we exchanged thank-you notes. One read, "Dear Auntie Winnis, thank you for playing basketball with us in the scorching sun. This shows us your care for young people. It demonstrates the love of Jesus!" Those teenagers were also full of grace.
From Sport Fan to the Father of Sport Star
Back to Jeremy Lin. I'm grateful for the opportunity to know Jeremy's family, to minister to children at church with his mother Shirley and watch our kids grow up. All three Lin sons love basketball. Every day, Jeremy's father Gie-ming waits for his children to finish their homework before taking them to play basketball. Loving basketball, Jeremy continued to attend Sunday worship and youth group during high school despite his busy academic and basketball schedules. He also served as a teaching assistant at our church's Sunday School and served as a game leader at Vacation Bible school for several years. His parents helped him pursue his dreams while also learning how to manage his time and priorities and shaping his character through faith. For almost his entire basketball years, he worked hard to get opportunities and hence proved some critics wrong.
While attending university in Taiwan, Jeremy's father became fascinated with NBA games through television. Although he only saw highlights, he knew the famous players well. He longed to study in the United States, dreaming not only of academic success but also of watching full games on television.
In his early 30s, he began playing basketball for fitness and later joined an amateur basketball team. When his three sons were born, from a few years old, each followed their father and older brother(s) to play basketball. Jeremy's father set an example by working hard and personally taking his children to play basketball whenever he had free time. However, he insisted that his sons prioritize both schoolwork and exercise: "Finish your homework first, then we'll go play."
Going Through the Ups and Downs with God's Grace
Because of such early start, each child was able to join the school basketball team. Around 2009, Jeremy was interviewed in college and talked about his past: "I didn't expect to play in college. Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to be able to play in high school. I was always one of the smallest guys. I went into high school at 5'3", 125 pounds, and every day I came home from practice asking my parents if I would grow taller. So, physically, I was so far behind. I was just trying to make the varsity team, let alone play in college. I had no idea what God had in store for me. That's why everyday, when I wake up and go to practice, I remind myself to be grateful that I have been so blessed. I could try to take credit for whatever success I've had, but honestly I see my basketball career as a miracle.”
Jeremy has always loved basketball, so he constantly works hard, expresses gratitude, and prays, knowing that it is God who has enabled him to grow taller and stronger and given him opportunities. Even if things don't always go his way, he persists in his faith, accepts God's sovereignty, strives toward his goals, and is always ready to seize opportunities.
None of this is a coincidence. After the "Linsanity" miracle, things didn't always go smoothly for Jeremy. Instead, it felt like a long road ahead. He was traded to multiple teams and plagued by injuries. But by God's grace, he worked tirelessly to recover, weathering highs and lows, becoming an inspiration to many, and continuing to play until retirement. I would like to wish Jeremy and his family all the best, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to see how He shapes each person according to His will, wisdom, and plan.
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
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