Andrew Smith (basketball, born 1990)
A gentle giant of Butler basketball whose courage in two Final Four runs was later matched by his public battle with cancer.
1990–2016 (age 26)·American basketball player, born 1990·Birthday: September 9·Millennials
Biography
Andrew Smith's story is one of quiet strength, both on the hardwood and in the face of unimaginable adversity. At Butler University, the 6-foot-11 center was the reliable anchor for coach Brad Stevens's teams that captivated the nation with back-to-back runs to the NCAA championship game in 2010 and 2011. He wasn't the flashiest player, but his intelligence, screening, and soft touch around the basket were foundational to the Bulldogs' system. After a professional stint in Lithuania, his life took a tragic turn when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. His and his wife's public documentation of the fight, emphasizing faith and resilience, touched the basketball community and beyond, leaving a legacy that far outlasts his stat line.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andrew was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2016Died at 26
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Started at center for Butler University in two consecutive NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games in 2010 and 2011.
- Played professionally for Neptūnas Klaipėda in the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Scored over 1,100 points and grabbed more than 600 rebounds during his collegiate career at Butler.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Samantha, documented his cancer battle on a blog titled 'The Andrew Smith Updates.'
He majored in finance at Butler University.
The Butler basketball team retired his #44 jersey in a posthumous ceremony in 2016.
“My role was to set the screen, rebound, and do whatever Butler needed to win.”
