Why Jeremy Lin Is “Banned” From the NBA: The Shocking Truth They Don’t Want You to Hear (Hint: It’s Not Just About Basketball)

On February 4th, 2012, the basketball world witnessed a phenomenon that would forever be known as “Linsanity.”

Jeremy Lin, an undrafted Asian-American player from Harvard, exploded onto the NBA scene with a 25-point game that led the New York Knicks to victory.

Overnight, Lin became a sensation, captivating fans with his skill, poise, and relentless determination.

But Jeremy Lin’s journey to that moment was anything but ordinary.

Unlike most NBA stars, Lin never received major scholarship offers out of high school despite winning California’s Player of the Year and leading his team to a state championship.

Why? Because he didn’t fit the stereotypical mold.

As Lin himself has said, being Asian-American was a barrier that followed him from high school to college and into the NBA.

At Harvard, Lin endured racist slurs and dismissive attitudes.

NBA locker rooms proved no kinder.

Lin recalls teammates and opponents alike hurling racial insults, questioning his abilities simply because he “didn’t look the part.”

The NBA, with only one Ivy League draftee in its history, was a mountain to climb for Lin.

Despite going undrafted, Lin’s talent could not be denied.

He earned a spot on the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team in 2010 and quickly became a fan favorite.

However, his early NBA career was marked by instability—short stints with the Warriors, Rockets, and Knicks, often relegated to garbage time minutes or the D-League.

His breakthrough came with the Knicks in 2012.

Lin’s electrifying performances, including a 38-point game against the Lakers where he famously waved Kobe Bryant on before hitting an off-balance three-pointer, earned him league-wide respect and a place in NBA lore.

Kobe himself acknowledged Lin’s skill and competitiveness after that game.

Yet, even at the height of Linsanity, Lin faced ugly racism.

National sports analysts made inappropriate jokes and perpetuated stereotypes.

When Carmelo Anthony returned from injury, Lin’s role diminished, and despite averaging impressive numbers, he was eventually edged out due to internal team politics and injuries.

The Knicks’ owner, James Dolan, promised to match any offer to keep Lin but backed away when the Rockets presented a “poison pill” contract offer.

Lin’s time in Houston was awkward; the team’s offense revolved around James Harden, leaving Lin struggling to find his place.

Lin bounced around the league for several years, including a stint with the Lakers alongside Kobe and a solid season with the Hornets.

He even signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Nets but was plagued by injuries and trades that prevented stability.

Despite consistently productive performances—never averaging fewer than 11 points per game—Lin’s NBA career abruptly stalled.

After a rough 12-game stretch with the Raptors, no team showed interest.

Lin’s own words reveal his shock: after nine years in the league, he expected more opportunities but found doors closing fast.

The reasons behind this sudden cutoff are complex but boil down to three persistent problems: lack of recognition as a legitimate basketball player, lack of faith from teams, and deep-seated racism.

Lin explained that when you don’t “look the part,” you must be perfect every time, and even then, it might not be enough.

Injuries like hamstring issues and knee tears were cited, but Lin proved his fitness by dominating in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), averaging over 22 points and 5 assists per game.

He returned to the U.S., excelling in the G-League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging nearly 20 points and 6 assists per game—clearly NBA caliber.

Yet, even in the G-League, Lin faced hostility, including being called “coronavirus” by another player during the outbreak, a stark example of the xenophobia he battled throughout his career.

The NBA’s obsession with “homegrown” American players further complicated Lin’s path.

Despite technically fitting that category, Lin was often treated as an outsider.

The league’s history of downplaying international players and those who don’t fit the conventional mold is well documented, with racist comments about players like Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo surfacing publicly.

Jeremy Lin’s story exposes the NBA’s dark secret: economic exploitation of minority players without addressing the underlying racism and stereotypes.

While the league profited from Lin’s popularity, it failed to meaningfully combat the negative perceptions Asian players face.

In 2021, Jeremy Lin officially declared his NBA comeback over.

He acknowledged that race likely played a role in his exclusion, though he couldn’t quantify how much.

His gut feeling was clear: race mattered.

Lin’s journey from Harvard standout to NBA star to sidelined veteran is heartbreaking but also a call to action.

The NBA must do better—not just in promoting diversity but in dismantling the barriers that prevent talented players like Lin from thriving.

Jeremy Lin’s story is a powerful reminder that talent alone isn’t always enough.

Systemic bias, racism, and stereotypes continue to shape careers and lives in professional sports.

For fans and the league alike, it’s time to confront these uncomfortable truths and push for real change.

Until then, Jeremy Lin remains a symbol of both hope and frustration—a player who defied odds but ultimately faced a ceiling imposed by more than just basketball skill.

His legacy challenges us all to rethink what fairness and opportunity truly mean in the NBA.