J. R. Smith
A mercurial shooting guard whose breathtaking three-pointers and unpredictable flair made him a pivotal, if chaotic, force on two championship teams.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 9·Millennials
Biography
J.R. Smith entered the NBA straight from high school in 2004, bringing with him a raw, explosive athleticism that promised both brilliance and bewilderment. For over a decade, his career was a rollercoaster of spectacular dunks, audacious long-range shots, and notorious on-court lapses, earning him a reputation as the ultimate wild card. His journey through multiple teams found its defining purpose in Cleveland, where he evolved from a pure scorer into a key defensive piece alongside LeBron James. Smith's redemption arc culminated in the 2016 NBA Finals, where his crucial three-pointers helped the Cavaliers complete an historic comeback against the Warriors. After a final stint with the Lakers, his career closed as it began: entirely on his own, unforgettable terms.
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.
J. was born in 1985, 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 J. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
J.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
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
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
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
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2016 NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, hitting critical shots in their historic Finals comeback.
- Earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2013 while with the New York Knicks.
- Scored a career-high 45 points for the New York Knicks in a 2014 game against the Miami Heat.
- Won a second NBA championship in 2020 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Did You Know?
He played a season for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China during the 2011-12 NBA lockout.
He is an avid golfer and played collegiate golf at North Carolina A&T after his NBA career.
He famously dribbled out the clock at the end of regulation in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, forgetting the score was tied.
His father, Earl Smith Jr., played professional basketball in Europe.
“I'm not afraid to take big shots. I'm not afraid to miss big shots.”
