Greg Smith (basketball, born 1991)
An athletic American big man who powered his way from undrafted free agent to a reliable NBA role player with sheer hustle.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 8·Millennials
Biography
Greg Smith's path to the NBA was a testament to persistence and raw physical tools. After a solid but unspectacular college career at Fresno State, he went undrafted in 2011, a setback that only fueled his determination. He caught on with the Houston Rockets, where his 6'10", 250-pound frame and relentless energy made him an effective, if limited, rotation player. Smith carved out a niche as a bruising screen-setter and ferocious offensive rebounder, providing valuable minutes off the bench during a competitive era for the Rockets. His NBA journey included brief stops with Dallas and Minnesota before he took his talents overseas, playing in leagues from China to Lebanon, embodying the global journeyman spirit of modern professional basketball.
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.
Greg was born in 1991, 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 Greg Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Greg's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
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
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
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
2007Could drive
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
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
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 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 145 games in the NBA across three seasons, primarily with the Houston Rockets.
- Averaged 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during the 2012-13 NBA season with Houston.
- Started 10 games for the Houston Rockets in the 2013-14 season, contributing to a playoff team.
Did You Know?
He recorded a career-high 18 points in a game against the Utah Jazz in January 2013.
He played high school basketball at Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.
After his NBA career, he played for teams in countries including China, Lebanon, and the Dominican Republic.
“I bring a physical presence every time I step on the floor.”
