Skip to content

Carmelo: 'Linsanity could've been a $100M business'

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Carmelo Anthony believes his former New York Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin could've capitalized a lot more on the Linsanity craze that swept the Big Apple in 2012.

On the latest episode of his "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast, Anthony dispelled the notion that he wasn't supportive of Linsanity and said he tried to talk Lin into monetizing the phenomenon.

"Linsanity could've been a $100-million business, easy. … And I'm trying to get this through to him," Anthony said. "He like, 'Nah, I'm not brought up on that, my parents.' But I respected that, but I'm like, 'I hear that. Matter of fact, bring your parents in here, and let us talk to them.'"

Lin rose to stardom following a dominant run in February 2012 that came to be known as Linsanity. While it may not have become a $100-million business, Lin did trademark the term and landed an endorsement deal with Volvo.

Lin only played one season for the Knicks, parting ways with the team in July 2012 to join the Houston Rockets. He last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 season for the Toronto Raptors, with whom he won a championship.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox