“I just wanted to make sure I got a good shot at the end of the clock” – Jeremy Lin’s humble response after game-winner vs. Raptors in 2012 originally appeared on Basketball Network.
From being a nobody to a somebody best describes how Jeremy Lin made his mark in the NBA. When he entered the league in 2010, Lin was hardly given a chance by pundits. The 6-foot-3 guard proved his doubters wrong, and Jeremy showed this when he was given an opportunity with the New York Knicks.
Advertisement
Lin was elevated to being a starter for the Knicks in February 2012 with their regular guards out due to injuries — he responded well and unleashed his full arsenal. Aside from that, Jeremy showed he could handle pressure-packed situations, like sinking the game-winner against the Toronto Raptors on February 14th.
“I just wanted to make sure I got a good shot at the end of the clock,” Lin modestly said after helping the Knicks to a 90-87 win over the Raptors. “I’m thankful that my coach and teammates trust me with the ball at the end of the game. I like having it at the end of the game.”
Lin led all scorers in that game with 27 points. He went 9-20 from the field and 2-2 from the three-point region. Aside from that, Jeremy also dished out 11 assists.
Advertisement
It was considered by some to be the peak of Linsanity. Reporters picked up after Metta World Peace ran past them, shouting, “Linsanity! Linsanity!” while waving his hands above his head.
Lin did not deny that getting all that hype was something new to him. He admitted to initially being overwhelmed, but eventually embracing it and looking at it from a different perspective.
“For a while, it was kind of this phenomenon, or this shadow, or this expectation, or this ghost that I was chasing — sometimes chasing, and sometimes trying to run away from. Now it’s more like a badge of honor that I’m really proud of and what it meant to so many people,” Lin confessed.
Advertisement
Linsanity falls short of a full breakout season
Lin’s sudden rise was attributed to his hard work and commitment to improving his game. It also helped that then-coach Mike D’Antoni was struggling to get the right point guard to execute his plays. J-Lin turned out to be the right player for his system.
As a result, the Knicks went on a seven-game winning run that started on February 4th and lasted until February 15th — including that game-winner against the Raptors.
Advertisement
Unfortunately for Lin, that marvelous resurgence was cut short. Jeremy suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during the team’s 101-79 win over the Detroit Pistons on March 24th. J-Lin needed surgery and was forced to miss the rest of that season.
Despite Lin’s exit, the Knicks managed to continue their push for a playoff spot. By the end of the regular season, they racked up a 36-30 win-loss record — enough to be the 7th seed of the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, their first-round assignment was against the eventual champion Miami Heat. The best New York could do was win Game 4, the team’s first playoff win since 2001. Miami was just too much for New York to handle, especially with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at the helm.
Advertisement
Linsanity comes to an end
Despite his contributions, Lin would eventually leave the Knicks after that breakout season. There was reportedly growing resentment during the Linsanity period between Jeremy and the team’s star, Carmelo Anthony, and the 6-foot-3 guard was encouraged to look for another team.
J-Lin ended up with the Houston Rockets, although his game started to decline from then on, and he never caught the magic of Linsanity outside of New York. Jeremy would also suit up for the Charlotte Hornets, L.A. Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, but his presence was hardly felt. He eventually faded from the NBA scene, bringing his talent to the Chinese Basketball Association instead.
Advertisement
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.