DeShawn Stevenson
A defensive stopper and clutch shooter who went from high school phenom to a key role player on an NBA championship team.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 3·Millennials
Biography
DeShawn Stevenson's path was set early, skipping college basketball after a standout high school career to leap directly into the NBA as a teenager with the Utah Jazz. For years, he was known as a tenacious, physical defender and a capable athlete, bouncing between teams as his offensive game developed. His career found its defining moment in Dallas. With the Mavericks in 2011, Stevenson's gritty perimeter defense and timely three-point shooting, often punctuated by his signature airplane celebration, became vital ingredients in the team's unexpected championship run. After his NBA career, he embraced the three-on-three format of the BIG3 league, extending his competitive playing days. Stevenson's journey reflects the arc of a player who carved out a lasting legacy not through superstar stats, but through toughness and embracing a specific, winning role.
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.
DeShawn was born in 1981, 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 DeShawn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
DeShawn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
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
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
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
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA Championship as a key rotation player with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
- Selected 23rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, making the jump directly from high school.
- Played 13 seasons in the NBA for six different franchises.
- Competed in the BIG3 basketball league after his NBA career.
Did You Know?
He famously had 'SHOT' tattooed across his throat and 'MAKE' on his fingers.
He engaged in a notable playoff rivalry and trash-talking feud with LeBron James in 2011.
He originally committed to play college basketball for the University of Kansas.
“They said I couldn't shoot. I guarded their best player and took the corner three.”
