C. J. Miles
A smooth-shooting wing who leapt from high school to the NBA and carved out a 16-year career as a reliable three-point specialist.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
C.J. Miles took a road less traveled, bypassing college basketball entirely when the Utah Jazz selected the 18-year-old straight out of Dallas's Skyline High School in the 2005 draft. His early years were a patient apprenticeship on a veteran-laden team, learning the professional game from the bench. Over time, he evolved into a quintessential modern role player: a lengthy, 6'6" wing whose primary weapon was a quick-release three-point shot. He played for seven franchises, with his most productive stint coming in Cleveland, where he provided crucial spacing during LeBron James's return. Miles was never a star, but his professionalism and consistent shooting stroke made him a valued commodity. His career embodies the journey of a second-round pick who, through adaptability and a defined skill, managed to outlast hundreds of more heralded prospects in the demanding NBA ecosystem.
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.
C. was born in 1987, 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 C. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
C.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
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
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
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
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 16 seasons in the NBA for seven different franchises, appearing in over 900 regular-season games.
- Scored a career-high 34 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 2014 game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Made 1,159 three-point field goals at a 35.5% career average, establishing himself as a reliable perimeter threat.
- Started 55 games for the Utah Jazz in the 2011-12 season, averaging a career-high 12.8 points per game.
Did You Know?
He was the last player drafted directly from high school by the Utah Jazz before the NBA instituted an age limit.
In his NBA debut at age 18, he played just one minute and committed a foul.
He played AAU basketball with future NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford.
He holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a quarter without a miss, hitting 6 in the fourth quarter for Cleveland in 2014.
“I went from high school to the NBA, so I had to learn everything on the job.”
