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NBA Icon Jeremy Lin Announces Move Into New Sport

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sami Haider | Last updated Mar 2, 2026 10:21 AM ET

Jeremy Lin, the man who sparked the global "Linsanity" phenomenon with the New York Knicks in 2012, is officially trading the hardwood for the hard court.

After a decorated 15-year professional journey that included an NBA title with the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors and a dominant final act in Taiwan’s TPBL, the 37-year-old veteran has found a new competitive outlet: pickleball.

He averaged 11.6 points and 4.3 assists over nine NBA seasons. Alongside the Raptors, the undrafted guard bounced between several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and many more.

After leaving the league, he played overseas, including stints in China and Taiwan, where he captured back-to-back championships with the New Taipei Kings and earned Finals MVP honors in 2025 before retiring from pro basketball in August.

After retirement, Lin was adjusting to his retirement, and it is safe to say now, he has finally adjusted to everything. On Monday, he posted a photo on Instagram from a pickleball court in Los Angeles. He posed with a fellow player and shared a vulnerable reflection on his post-NBA life.

"Basketball was my first love," he wrote. "But since retiring, it’s been tough. Fortunately, I’ve found a LOT of joy in pickleball as a way to stay active."

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Lin noted that while the game is accessible, mastering the technical nuances, such as micro-sensitive touch and strategic resets, is as demanding as any high-level "chess match" he faced in the league.

He added, “I‘ve developed a tremendous passion and respect for the game. The complexity and layers to flicks, rolls, volley dinks, resets and counters seem endless, and the strategy is a constant chess match fighting for every cm of advantage.”

Lin concluded his long note, penning, “Very very long and roundabout way of saying, thanks to everyone who in LA who showed out to play and teach me more about pickleball .”

There is no public record of a signed contract with the PPA Tour as a full-time pro. Lin is a co-owner of the Bay Area Breakers in Major League Pickleball. Because the 2026 season begins in May in Dallas, he’ll be there as an owner and potentially as a competitor in exhibition matches.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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