37-year-old Jeremy Lin announced his retirement on social media Weibo and Instagram, bringing an end to his 15-year professional basketball career. Photo: Screenshot from website

On Sunday, 37-year-old Jeremy Lin announced his retirement on social media Sina Weibo and Instagram, bringing an end to his 15-year professional basketball career. "This is a ride I never wanted to end, but I know it's time," he said. "I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all, but our time will go beyond just playing."

Standing 1.91 meters tall, Lin played as a point guard and spent nine seasons in the NBA, suiting up for eight teams, including the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and Toronto Raptors. 

He appeared in 480 regular-season games, averaging 25.5 minutes, 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of 43.3 percent and a three-point shooting percentage of 34.2 percent, according to Zhibo8.

"As athletes, we are always aware that the possibility of retirement is never far away," Lin said. "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."

Reflecting on his journey, Lin wrote: "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."

Beijing-based sports commentator Guo Ai told the Global Times on Sunday that Lin's career was nothing short of an "against-the-odds" story.

"From an undrafted player whom few believed in to sparking a global sensation with 'Linsanity,' and ultimately lifting the NBA championship trophy, Lin's journey proved that Asian players can also compete at the highest level of the game," Guo said.

In February 2012, after stepping in for injured starting point guard Baron Davis of the New York Knicks, Lin tallied 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds to lead the Knicks to victory.

Over his first four starts, Lin scored a total of 109 points, averaging 27.3 per game and surpassing even Michael Jordan's mark for points in the first four career starts. That stretch triggered the worldwide "Linsanity" craze, and Lin was later named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2012.

In 2019, he became the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship as a member of the Toronto Raptors. Beyond the NBA, Lin also played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Beijing Ducks and Guangzhou Loong Lions, as well as for the New Taipei Kings on Taiwan island.

Guo noted that although Lin did not create a "craze" during his years in the CBA, his influence was subtle yet profound.

"Many young players learned from him the importance of professionalism, disciplined training, and team awareness," Guo said. "His understanding of basketball and his encouragement of young athletes are actually more valuable than his on-court performance."