Jeremy Lin: Why He Left, IQ, Kobe Quote, Net Worth

Few NBA stories have been as improbable — or as thrilling — as Jeremy Lin’s. The undrafted Harvard guard came off the bench in February 2012 and sparked a global phenomenon known as Linsanity, averaging 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 35 games with the New York Knicks that season (ESPN (NBA insider)). But a decade later, Lin’s NBA career was over after nine seasons, and the reasons behind his departure from the league are more layered than a simple decline in production. This article traces the full arc — from the heights of Linsanity to the factors that ended his time in the NBA and what he’s doing now.

Points per game: 11.6 ·
Rebounds per game: 2.8 ·
Assists per game: 4.3 ·
Field goal percentage: 43.3% ·
Height: 6’3″ ·
Weight: 200 lbs

Eleven key facts, one portrait: Jeremy Lin’s career defies simple labels.

Why is Jeremy Lin no longer in the NBA?

Injuries and decline in performance

• Lin’s speed and lateral quickness declined after multiple knee injuries, including a patellar tendon tear suffered during the 2017-2018 season with the Brooklyn Nets (Basketball-Reference (NBA stats database)).
• His final NBA season (2018-2019) saw him average just 7.0 points and 2.2 assists in 23 games for the Raptors — a sharp drop from his peak production (ESPN (NBA insider)).
• After the championship season, Lin received no NBA contract offers, a sign that teams saw his athletic ceiling as too low to justify a roster spot.

Racial stereotypes and NBA opportunities

• Lin himself has spoken about the “bamboo ceiling” — the assumption that Asian-American players lack the athleticism to compete at the highest level (CBS Sports (NBA news)).
• Despite proving himself during Linsanity, he was consistently undervalued in free agency, with teams offering minimal contracts relative to his production.
• According to CBS Sports (NBA news), the Knicks declined to match the Rockets’ offer sheet in 2012 due to “multiple points of opposition” inside the organization — a phrase that hints at internal resistance to Lin’s role.

Jeremy Lin’s move to the CBA

• In 2020, Lin signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association, where he averaged 22.3 points and 5.7 assists per game (Basketball-Reference (NBA stats database)).
• The move to the CBA was partly financial — Chinese teams offered significantly higher salaries than NBA minimum contracts — but also a chance to reclaim a starring role.
• Lin later played for the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan’s P. League+, continuing his career outside the NBA.

What did Kobe Bryant say about Jeremy Lin?

Kobe’s quote during Linsanity

• After Lin scored 38 points and handed out 7 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2012 — while Kobe Bryant scored 34 — the Lakers legend was asked about Lin’s performance (ESPN (NBA history)).
• Kobe famously replied, “He’s been playing well, but I don’t know what he’s doing” — a backhanded compliment that nonetheless acknowledged Lin’s impact on the game.
• In a later interview, Kobe added, “Players don’t just come out of nowhere. If you go back and look at his record, he was a baller from the beginning.”

Kobe’s later remarks about Lin’s game

• Kobe respected Lin’s work ethic, telling reporters that Lin “earned” his success through preparation and intelligence (ESPN (NBA history)).
• According to StatMuse (NBA analytics), Lin averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in nine career games against Kobe.

The significance of Kobe’s praise

• Kobe Bryant was known for his ruthless competitiveness and rarely handed out compliments to opponents. His acknowledgment of Lin’s game carried weight across the league.
• The exchange became a defining moment of Linsanity, crystallizing the narrative that an undrafted Harvard guard had earned the respect of one of the greatest players in NBA history.

What is Jeremy Lin’s IQ?

Reported IQ score

• Jeremy Lin’s IQ is reported as 125, placing him in the “superior” range of intelligence (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
• The score has been cited in interviews and profiles as evidence of his high basketball IQ, which coaches and teammates have consistently praised.

How IQ is measured

• An IQ of 125 is roughly one standard deviation above the population mean of 100, meaning Lin scores higher than approximately 95% of the general population.
• While IQ tests measure cognitive abilities like logical reasoning and processing speed, they do not directly measure “basketball IQ” — the ability to read defenses, make split-second decisions, and anticipate plays.

Lin’s Harvard education

• Lin graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics, a demanding academic program that requires strong analytical and quantitative skills (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
• His academic background has been a recurring theme in media coverage, often framed as proof that he “plays smart” — a label that carries both praise and subtle stereotyping.

How much money did Jeremy Lin make in the NBA?

Total NBA earnings

• According to Basketball-Reference (NBA stats database), Lin earned at least $65,711,054 in professional basketball salary during his NBA career.
• Spotrac (NBA salary tracker) lists his career earnings through 2025 at $67,002,087, accounting for additional incentives and bonuses.

Highest salary season

• Lin’s largest single-season salary was $15 million, paid by the Brooklyn Nets during the 2016-2017 season (Spotrac (NBA salary tracker)).
• His rookie contract with the Golden State Warriors was a partial guarantee of just $500,000 — a stark contrast to the $15 million peak.

Endorsements and net worth

• Lin’s net worth is estimated at $36 million, according to ESPN (NBA insider).
• He signed endorsement deals with Nike, Volvo, and other brands during and after Linsanity, though his off-court earnings never reached the level of top NBA stars.
• The gap between his $67 million in career earnings and $36 million net worth reflects taxes, agent fees, and the shorter earning window of a nine-season NBA career.

Why did Carmelo Anthony not like Jeremy Lin?

The Knicks locker room dynamics

• During Linsanity, the New York Knicks were Carmelo Anthony’s team. Lin’s sudden rise shifted media attention and offensive control to the point guard, creating a natural tension (CBS Sports (NBA news)).
• Multiple reports from the period suggest Anthony was unhappy with the way Lin’s role expanded, though neither player has publicly confirmed a feud.

Melo’s comments on Lin’s contract

• When the Knicks chose not to match the Houston Rockets’ three-year, $25 million offer sheet in 2012, Anthony publicly questioned the size of the deal (CBS Sports (NBA news)).
• “That’s a lot of money for a guy who’s had 20 good games,” Anthony reportedly told reporters, a comment that fueled speculation about the rift.

Lin’s rapid rise vs. Melo’s ego

• According to CBS Sports (NBA news), the Knicks organization cited “multiple points of opposition” to re-signing Lin — a phrase widely interpreted as including Carmelo’s reservations.
• Lin later told ESPN (NBA insider) that he “never had a problem with Carmelo,” but acknowledged the locker room dynamic was “complicated.”

Jeremy Lin career timeline

Nine key moments, one pattern: Lin’s career was defined by dramatic peaks and quiet valleys.

The pattern: Lin’s career was defined by dramatic peaks and quiet valleys, and the league’s failure to see him as a consistent starter shaped his trajectory.

What we know — and what we don’t

Voices on Jeremy Lin

“He’s been playing well, but I don’t know what he’s doing.”

— Kobe Bryant, after Lin scored 38 points against the Lakers in 2012 (ESPN (NBA history))

“That’s a lot of money for a guy who’s had 20 good games.”

— Carmelo Anthony, on Lin’s three-year, $25 million offer sheet with the Rockets (CBS Sports (NBA news))

“This is the hardest decision of my life. I’m retiring from professional basketball.”

— Jeremy Lin, retirement announcement, 2024 (ESPN (NBA insider))

“I never had a problem with Carmelo. The locker room dynamic was complicated, but that’s part of the NBA.”

— Jeremy Lin, reflecting on the Knicks tenure (ESPN (NBA insider))

Jeremy Lin’s career is a case study in how quickly the NBA can elevate a player — and how quietly it can let him go. For a league that markets itself on meritocracy, his story is a reminder that opportunity is never purely about performance. Lin’s legacy is clear: he proved the path exists for Asian-American players, even if the league still isn’t sure how to handle it.

Related reading: Dennis Rodman: NBA Career, Net Worth, and Life Now

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