Devin Harris
A blur in the open court, his explosive speed defined his 15-year NBA career and made him one of the league's most feared transition players.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 27·Millennials
Biography
Devin Harris entered the league with a simple, devastating weapon: speed. From his early days in Dallas to his All-Star season in New Jersey, Harris operated at a gear few could match, turning defensive rebounds into breakaway layups in a heartbeat. He was more than just fast, though; he developed a cunning floor game and a reliable three-point shot, evolving from a sparkplug reserve into a primary ball-handler. His career arc saw him as a key contributor on a Finals team, the centerpiece of a franchise, and later, a valued veteran mentor. Harris's longevity was a testament to his ability to adapt his relentless pace, proving that pure velocity, when harnessed with intelligence, can have a very long shelf life in the NBA.
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.
Devin was born in 1983, 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 Devin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Devin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
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
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named an NBA All-Star in 2009 while playing for the New Jersey Nets.
- Played a key role off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks team that reached the 2006 NBA Finals.
- Averaged a career-high 21.3 points per game during his 2008-09 All-Star season.
- Played 15 seasons in the NBA, appearing in over 900 regular season games.
Did You Know?
He won the NBA's Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend in 2009.
Harris was traded for Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd in a 2008 blockbuster deal.
He hit a game-winning half-court shot at the buzzer to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in 2009.
He played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin, leading them to the Final Four in 2000.
“My speed was my weapon, but I had to learn to control the game.”
