It has been over a decade since Jeremy Lin became a national phenomenon due to his iconic run with the New York Knicks. But until today, he is widely revered in the Big Apple, which he rejuvenated even for just a few weeks in 2012.
“Linsanity” was one of those where-were-you moments. It came out of nowhere, like the cosmos gifting New York something on a whim. For a city starved for success in the NBA, Lin's magical stint, no matter how fleeting it was, was awe-inspiring.
One of the many who witnessed it was Karl-Anthony Towns. He was born and raised in New Jersey, and cheering for the Knicks was natural. But he admitted that it was Lin who really made him root for New York.
Towns, who was 17 years old when “Linsanity” happened, even repeatedly posted about Lin.
On “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” Lin said he did not initially believe that Towns admired him when he saw the 30-year-old center wearing a “Linsanity” shirt. But after getting to know each other over the years, he realized how genuine it was.
“When I'm listening to him talk, I'm really like, ‘No, I made a difference in his life.' It's shocking for me. I almost can't believe it,” said the 37-year-old Lin.
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Jeremy Lin shows love for Karl-Anthony Towns' fandom — and toughness:
"When I'm listening to him talk, I'm really like, 'No, I made a difference in his life.' … I almost can't believe it." pic.twitter.com/te0Tx6FV2R
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) June 10, 2026
Lin, who left the NBA after winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, was in attendance at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He earned a loud cheer from the home crowd, who probably felt nostalgic in seeing him.
Unfortunately, the Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs, with Towns finishing with only 11 points and eight rebounds, significantly lower than his numbers in the first two games.
Towns knows he needs to avenge himself. If he needs extra motivation, he can always hark back to 14 years ago, when he was watching an erstwhile unknown make New York believe, dream, and hope—even for just a few weeks.
It has been over a decade since Jeremy Lin became a national phenomenon due to his iconic run with the New York Knicks. But until today, he is widely revered in the Big Apple, which he rejuvenated even for just a few weeks in 2012. “Linsanity” was one of those where-were-you moments.