In the fall of 2017, the NBA was gearing up for another season of high-octane hoops, but the biggest story wasn't a trade or a triple-double. It was about hair. Specifically, Jeremy Lin’s hair. When the former "Linsanity" star, then with the Brooklyn Nets, decided to rock dreadlocks, he didn't expect to ignite a national debate on cultural appropriation. But then Kenyon Martin stepped in.
The former All-Star forward didn't hold back. In a now-deleted Instagram video, Martin mocked the look, essentially telling Lin he was trying too hard to be something he wasn't. "Do I need to remind this damn boy his last name is Lin?" Martin asked his followers. It was blunt. It was aggressive. And honestly, it was the kind of locker-room talk that usually stays behind closed doors, suddenly laid bare for the world to see.
The Post That Started the Fire
Kenyon Martin's critique wasn't just about fashion. It felt personal. He suggested that Lin’s choice was a sign he wanted to be Black, and that no team Martin played on would have tolerated "that bulls--t on his head." For many, this felt like a punch down. Martin was a retired vet, a guy known for his toughness and no-nonsense attitude, and Lin was a player who had already spent his entire career navigating the tricky waters of being an Asian American in a league where he was the ultimate outlier.
The backlash was instant. Fans flocked to Martin’s page, and it wasn't just basketball talk. Things got ugly. People called Martin a hypocrite. They called him uneducated. Some even went after his son, Kenyon Martin Jr., which Martin later admitted was the part that actually got under his skin.
But then, Lin responded. And he didn't do it with anger.
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The "Chinese Tattoo" Clapback
Jeremy Lin’s response is now legendary for its poise. He didn't fire back with insults. Instead, he took the high road—but he brought a map. In a comment on Martin’s post, Lin thanked him for sharing his opinion and admitted he was actually "legit grateful" for the dialogue. Then came the kicker.
Lin pointed out that while he had dreadlocks, Martin had Chinese characters tattooed on his body.
"At the end of the day, I appreciate that I have dreads and you have Chinese tattoos [because] I think its a sign of respect. And I think as minorities, the more that we appreciate each other's cultures, the more we influence mainstream society."
Basically, Lin turned the argument on its head. If Lin wearing dreadlocks was cultural appropriation, what was Martin doing with Chinese calligraphy on his arm? It was a "checkmate" move that somehow managed to be polite.
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Moving Past the Viral Moment
What most people forget is that the story didn't end with a viral comment. Martin eventually walked it back, though he did it in his own Kenyon Martin way. Speaking to TMZ and Sports Illustrated later, he apologized for the "wanting to be black" phrasing, admitting his wording was "bad." He insisted it was meant to be a joke—a "Ha Ha Ha moment"—and that he didn't realize Lin had actually written a thoughtful essay in The Players' Tribune about the decision before the season started.
In that essay, titled "So... About My Hair," Lin detailed the hours of conversations he had with teammates and friends, including African American teammates like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, about whether dreadlocks would be offensive. He wanted to be sure he wasn't just "taking" a style without understanding the weight behind it.
Why the Kenyon Martin Jeremy Lin exchange still matters
This wasn't just a "he said, she said" celebrity beef. It highlighted a few things about the NBA and culture:
- The Locker Room vs. The Public: Martin was right about one thing—this kind of "roasting" happens in locker rooms every day. But social media removes the context of friendship and proximity.
- The Minority Bridge: Lin’s point about minorities supporting each other instead of gatekeeping culture was a shift in the usual "appropriation" narrative.
- The Power of De-escalation: By refusing to be the victim, Lin actually forced a more nuanced conversation.
What Happened Next?
Believe it or not, the two actually made peace. Martin reached out to Lin privately to apologize. Lin later mentioned on a podcast that they had a great conversation and that Martin was "extremely courteous." In fact, when Lin suffered a devastating, season-ending knee injury just a few games into that 2017 season, Martin was one of the first people to reach out and wish him well.
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It’s easy to look back at the Kenyon Martin Jeremy Lin saga as just another 24-hour news cycle blip. But it was more than that. It was a rare moment where a public disagreement didn't end in a "cancel" campaign, but in a weird, semi-awkward, yet genuine mutual respect.
If you're looking to apply this to your own life or social media presence, the takeaway is simple. Most conflicts online stem from a lack of context. Before you hit "post" on a critique of someone else’s choices, ask yourself if you’re applying the same standards to your own "tattoos." Dialogue beats a monologue every time.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Cultural Conversations:
- Do the Homework: If you're adopting a style or symbol from another culture, read up on it like Lin did. Understanding the "why" prevents accidental offense.
- Acknowledge Your Own Blind Spots: We all "borrow" from other cultures. Recognizing that makes you less likely to judge others for doing the same.
- Choose Kindness over Clout: Lin could have "destroyed" Martin and won the internet for a day. Instead, he won a friend and shifted the culture. It's the better long-term play.
The next time you see a headline about a "feud," remember the hair. It usually isn't about the hair at all. It's about how we talk to each other when the cameras are on.