Jeremy Lin through the years

Lakers guard Jeremy Lin speaks at his introductory news conference in El Segundo on July 24, 2014.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lin, left, starred for Palo Alto High School, leading them to a 32-1 record and Division II CIF State Basketball Championships his senior year in 2006. After high school, he went to play college basketball at Harvard.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

After four years at Harvard, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors signed Lin to a two-year deal. He finished just one year with the Warriors, mostly on the bench.  (Ben Margot / Associated Press)

After an unsuccessful rookie season at Golden State, Lin signed with the New York Knicks in 2011. After a slow start to the 2011-12 season, Lin began single-handedly leading the Knicks to victories.  (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)

Lin’s sudden ascent from backup point guard to leader of the Knicks offense in the 2011-12 season gave rise to the “Linsanity” phenomenon, and Lin attracted hordes of new fans.   (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press )

As the first Asian-American NBA player, Lin, and “Linsanity,” caught the attention of the Chinese sports press.   (Sam Yeh / AFP/Getty Images)

Despite initial expectations that Lin would re-sign with the Knicks following the 2011-12 season, he joined the Houston Rockets. After starting all 82 games in the 2012-13 season, Lin played mostly off the bench the following season.   (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

On July 13, Lin was traded to the Lakers, along with a future first round pick and a 2015 second round pick, for the rights to Ukrainian player Sergei Lishchuk.  (Michael Nelson / EPA)

Lakers guard Jeremy Lin sprained his left ankle on Saturday in practice.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Jeremy Lin answers questions from reporters during the team’s media day in El Segundo on Sept. 29.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Jeremy Lin, left, puts up a shot over Phoenix Suns forward Earl Barron during the first half of the Lakers’ 114-108 exhibition loss at Honda Center on October 21.  (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)