Dennis Smith Jr.
A high-flying, explosive point guard whose NBA journey has been a rollercoaster of breathtaking dunks and determined comebacks.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 25·Generation Z
Biography
Dennis Smith Jr. arrived in the NBA with a bang, a human highlight reel whose vertical leap and audacious dunks instantly made him a must-watch player for the Dallas Mavericks. Winning the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest seemed to cement his star trajectory. However, his path quickly grew complicated, marked by trades, injuries, and fluctuating roles that saw him bounce between several teams. What defines Smith Jr.'s narrative, though, is not just athleticism but resilience. After facing personal tragedy and professional uncertainty, he reinvented himself as a defensive menace, using his physical tools to harass opponents and spark fast breaks. His fight to reclaim a consistent spot in the league, including a notable stint with the Brooklyn Nets, turned him from a mere dunker into a respected veteran fighting for every minute.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Dennis was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dennis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Dennis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2018 with a series of creative and high-flying dunks.
- Named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018 after averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game.
- Recorded a triple-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists) for the Charlotte Hornets in a 2023 game.
Did You Know?
He famously wore jersey number 1 because he was told he would 'never be number 1' coming out of high school.
He tore his ACL in his senior year of high school but still played in the McDonald's All-American Game.
He is cousins with professional football player Dexter McCluster.
He is known for an exceptionally high vertical leap, measured at 48 inches during pre-draft workouts.
“I've been counted out before. I know what it takes to get back.”
