More than a decade after the height of “Linsanity,” Jeremy Lin is finally addressing one of the wildest rumors from that era: Kim Kardashian really was trying to get in touch.
Appearing on the June 9 episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, the former New York Knicks star confirmed that Kardashian’s team reached out to the organization during his breakout 2012 run. “That request did come in to the Knicks, and that is a real request,” Lin said, validating years of speculation that linked the NBA sensation to one of reality television’s biggest stars.
According to Lin, the matter never even reached him. The Knicks shut it down before he had a chance to respond. Recalling what he was later told by team officials, Lin said management essentially took the decision out of his hands, explaining, “We’re not allowing our young second-year player to go down this route right now.”
In early 2012, Lin transformed from an end-of-the-bench player into the face of the NBA almost overnight, leading the Knicks on a stunning run that dominated sports headlines and spilled into mainstream pop culture. The attention became so intense that everyone—from luxury brands to television producers—wanted access.
Lin described a period when his every move attracted attention. Paparazzi followed him through Manhattan, fans camped outside his family’s home, and companies attempted to shower him with free products. Even members of the media struggled to get near him.
On the podcast, host Pablo Torre noted that Knicks publicists were so protective of Lin that securing an interview became nearly impossible during the height of the craze.
The Kardashian rumors grew loud enough that Lin was repeatedly asked about them in national interviews. During one ESPN appearance, journalist Rachel Nichols directly questioned whether he could see himself with Kardashian. Lin laughed off the suggestion at the time, replying, “No, I don’t think I’m that type.”
The timing also makes the story particularly interesting in retrospect. Kardashian began dating Kanye West in 2012 after years of friendship, eventually marrying the rapper in 2014 before filing for divorce in 2021.
Lin, meanwhile, remained largely private about his personal life. He later revealed that he had married his longtime partner in an intimate ceremony and became a father, though he has chosen not to publicly identify his wife.
