Jeremy Lin addresses past Kim Kardashian dating rumors amid her romance with Lewis Hamilton
During the Linsanity run, Kim Kardashian reportedly requested access to Jeremy Lin — but Lin now recalls the Knicks "immediately declined":
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) June 10, 2026
"She was looking for kind of, like, a New York athlete."
Kardashian went public dating Kanye West just one month later. pic.twitter.com/bDH6B1xAgm
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former NBA star Jeremy Lin has addressed the long-running rumors that linked him to media personality and socialite Kim Kardashian during the peak of “Linsanity” in 2012, while appearing on the 'Pablo Torre Finds Out' podcast amid the 2026 NBA Finals.
He also reflected on the speculation that surrounded him during his breakout run with the New York Knicks and shared what he had been told about how the rumors began. Kardashian and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who had known each other for years, officially began dating in early 2026 after their longtime acquaintance evolved into a romantic relationship.
Jeremy Lin recalls the origins of the Kim Kardashian speculation
During the podcast, host Pablo Torre revisited reports from February 2012 that claimed Kardashian wanted to date Lin as his popularity soared. The conversation included archival footage from that period, including an interview in which he was asked about the strangest paparazzi-related story encountered during “Linsanity.”
At the time, he dismissed the reports, saying, “I have no idea. I have no idea where that came from.” When asked whether he considered himself “the Kim Kardashian type,” he laughed and replied, “I don't think so.”
Reflecting on the situation years later, Lin shared an explanation he had heard after the rumors surfaced. While noting that he could not confirm every detail, he explained, “I don't know if this is true or not, but somebody told me this is what happened.”
According to him, she was filming a reality television series at the time, possibly 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' or 'Kourtney & Kim Take New York'. He claimed that a request connected to her had been sent to the Knicks organization seeking a New York athlete to appear on the show.
Lin said he was told that the team rejected the idea immediately without discussing it with him. Recalling what he had heard, he stated, “The Knicks just immediately shut it down and were like, ‘No, we don't want him to go into that world because he was just kind of blowing up.’”
Torre noted that the Knicks were highly protective of him during that period, adding that he himself had been denied an interview with the guard because of the organization’s strict control over access to him.
Jeremy Lin reflects on fame and life beyond ‘Linsanity’
The conversation also turned to Lin’s experience with fame and the lasting impact of “Linsanity.” Speaking previously while promoting the HBO documentary '38 at the Garden', he acknowledged that revisiting that period of his life was not easy.
Explaining why he kept some distance from the documentary’s production, He admitted, “I don't really like thinking about it.” He added, “I don't know if it's because of trauma or if it's because I'm just trying to move on with my life.”
After eventually watching the finished project, however, he came away impressed by the result. He described the documentary as “amazing” and expressed hope that audiences would connect with its themes. He said, “I hope people can see themselves in the story.”
The documentary examines Lin’s remarkable rise with the Knicks and explores the broader significance of his success for the Asian American community. Since the whirlwind days of 2012, his personal life has changed considerably.
In January 2023, he revealed that he had quietly married his longtime partner, whose identity he has kept private, and later welcomed a son. Lin recently returned to Madison Square Garden to attend Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals and support the Knicks, the franchise where his unforgettable “Linsanity” run first captured worldwide attention.
