Jeremy Lin may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about Ivy League basketball players but he certainly made his mark as a Harvard graduate turned NBA star.
His impressive academic achievements at Harvard highlighted by his GPA prove that brain and brawn are not mutually exclusive.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at Jeremy Lin’s GPA and how he’s become a role model for student-athletes everywhere.
Jeremy Lin’s GPA
Jeremy Lin a professional basketball player known for his time in the NBA attended Harvard University and achieved a 3.1 GPA in Economics. Lin had a 4.2 GPA in high school and was named the North Cali Division 2 Player of the Year as well as First Team All-California.
Despite his academic and athletic achievements he was not offered any athletic scholarships.
Academic Achievements of NBA Players
Many NBA players are recognized not only for their skills on the court but also their academic achievements and intelligence. Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs for example is known for his love of math and has even formed his own math athletes group.
Tim Duncan who holds a degree in Psychology enjoys attending Renaissance fairs and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
- Grant Hill double-majored in history and political science at Duke University where he excelled both academically and athletically.
- Emeka Okafor who majored in finance at the University of Connecticut was named the 2004 Academic All-American of the Year.
- Shane Battier claimed he could beat any NBA player at Jeopardy! and was named the 2001 Academic All-American of the Year.
- Matt Bonner known as the “Red Mamba” was a two-time Academic All-American of the Year at the University of Florida.
- Landry Fields a Stanford University alumnus had a pregame handshake ritual with Jeremy Lin showcasing their academic connection.
- Cole Aldrich was the 2010 Academic All-American of the Year from the University of Kansas.
- Tyler Zeller a University of North Carolina alumnus was the 2012 Academic All-American of the Year and previously won “Mr. Basketball” in Indiana.
Ivy League and NBA: Jeremy Lin’s Story
Jeremy Lin a pro basketball player surprised many when he attended Harvard University with a 3.1 GPA in Economics. Known for his intelligence on and off the court Lin’s journey to the NBA wasn’t an easy one.
Despite his academic and athletic achievements he struggled to gain the recognition and opportunities awarded to other athletes.
Other NBA players known for academic success include Manu Ginobili who enjoys math and has his own mathletes group Tim Duncan with a degree in psychology and an interest in Renaissance fairs and Dungeons & Dragons and Grant Hill who double-majored in history and political science at Duke.
From High School to Harvard: Jeremy Lin’s Journey
In high school Jeremy Lin boasted a 4.2 GPA and was named North Cali Division 2 Player of the Year as well as First Team All California. However he didn’t receive any athletic scholarships and faced challenges in securing a spot at top schools.
Lin sent his resume and DVD to several universities including UCLA Stanford UC Berkeley and Arizona State.
He was eventually accepted into Harvard where the basketball coach was initially hesitant to give him a role. In his senior year Lin was a nominee for both the John Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award.
Despite his impressive achievements at Harvard Lin went undrafted in the NBA before eventually finding his place in the league.
The Smartest Players on the Court
Jeremy Lin is considered one of the top intelligent players in the NBA. With a 3.1 GPA in Economics at Harvard University Lin represents the Ivy League brainiacs among athletes.
Another example of smart players in the NBA includes Mason Plumlee who dual-majored in psychology and cultural anthropology at Duke University. Plumlee currently plays as a power forward for the Denver Nuggets.
Russell Westbrook a player for the Oklahoma City Thunder also boasts an impressive academic record with a 3.9 GPA at the University of California Los Angeles.
Moreover Tyler Zeller a player for the Milwaukee Bucks achieved a degree in business administration and a 3.62 GPA from the prestigious University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
The Nerdiest NBA Players
Manu Ginobili a player for the San Antonio Spurs embraces his nerdy side with his love for math as part of his group called Manu’s Mathletes.
Tim Duncan who has a degree in psychology also indulges in nerdy activities such as attending Renaissance fairs and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Grant Hill a former player who double-majored in history and political science at Duke challenged the public’s perception of jocks by speaking up against misrepresentations in the New York Times.
Last but not least Matt Bonner known as the Red Mamba is a two-time Academic All-American of the Year at Florida and has been noted for his cerebral tweets.
