Jeremy Lin has promised he will never stop representing Asians, after becoming the first Asian-American to win an NBA championship.
The California native, who is of Taiwanese descent, only saw 51 seconds of action over six games of the Toronto Raptors’ 4-2 NBA Finals series victory against the Golden State Warriors, but Lin’s achievement was still historic.
“First Asian-American ever to be an NBA champ!” Lin wrote in a post to his 1.8 million Instagram followers. “Promise I’ll never stop reppin Asians with everything I have!”
The 30-year-old remains hugely popular from his “Linsanity” days in the 2011-2012 season, when he burst on to the scene in the NBA and inspired a winning run for the New York Knicks.
Fans flooded social media with posts congratulating Lin, who joined the Raptors in February from the Atlanta Hawks.
“GOD established my step after step after step, allowing me to be 9 inches taller and over 70lbs more than my parents,” Lin continued.
“And definitely wouldn’t be here without my FAMILY! While others mocked, my family supported me all the way through. Thanks for believing in me and always always having my back.”
The post was accompanied by pictures of Lin celebrating on the court with his parents and brother Joseph Lin, who plays for Taiwanese club the Fubon Braves in the Super Basketball League.
“Two championships for the fam in a year!” Joseph Lin wrote in his own Instagram. “So proud of you @jlin7. You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are. Still doubted and still underappreciated. But it’s all good, you a CHAMP and no one can take that away from you.”
Lin also shared a video of his mother holding the NBA championship trophy – as she calls for him to win a “second one”.
Lin, who made his NBA debut in 2010 as the first Asian-American to play in the league in 63 years since Wat Misaka in 1947, remains a fan favourite in a number of basketball markets.
After joining the Raptors, Lin revealed that he used to “run” from the role of representing Asia, as he opened up on struggling with the pressure of being an Asian role model.
But he said he is now embracing his status in a city and franchise that is a perfect fit – Lin received a standing ovation when he first stepped on to his home court as a Raptor.
