Gerald Green
A gravity-defying dunker from Houston who turned high-flying athleticism into a 12-season NBA career, becoming the ultimate journeyman fan favorite.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Gerald Green's path to the NBA was paved with both breathtaking hops and hard-won resilience. A local star at Houston's Gulf Shores Academy, his leaping ability became the stuff of legend when he won the 2005 McDonald's All-American dunk contest—without wearing shoes. Drafted straight out of high school by the Boston Celtics, Green's early years were defined by his slam dunk championship pedigree, winning the NBA's 2007 contest with a now-iconic cupcake dunk. Yet, translating that aerial show into consistent on-court production proved difficult. He bounced around the league and the globe, playing in Russia and China, before staging a remarkable NBA comeback. He found a home and a defined role as a microwave scorer off the bench, most notably with the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, where his three-point shooting finally caught up to his athleticism. Green's career stands as a testament to evolution, as he reshaped himself from a pure dunker into a valued veteran contributor.
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.
Gerald was born in 1986, 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 Gerald Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Gerald's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
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
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
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
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a memorable 'cupcake' dunk, blowing out a candle on the rim.
- Averaged a career-high 15.8 points per game for the Phoenix Suns during the 2013-14 season.
- Played for a total of eight different NBA franchises across 12 seasons, appearing in over 650 games.
- Finished as the runner-up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, famously executing a dunk while wearing a throwback Boston Celtics jersey.
Did You Know?
He is missing part of the ring finger on his right hand due to a childhood accident, which he often tapes together during games.
He won the 2005 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest while dunking barefoot.
He played for the Lokomotiv-Kuban team in Russia during the 2011 NBA lockout.
He served as a player development coach for the Houston Rockets after his retirement from playing.
“I'm not just a dunker. I can play basketball.”
