Jalen Smith
A lanky forward with a smooth outside shot, he transformed himself from a college stretch-four into a valued NBA rim protector and floor spacer.
Born 2000 (age 26)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 16·Generation Z
Biography
Jalen Smith's path to NBA stability was a lesson in adaptation. Drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2020, the Maryland product known as 'Stix' initially struggled to find his footing, his slender frame and perimeter-oriented game not immediately translating. A trade to Indiana proved to be his crucible. With the Pacers, he bulked up, embraced a physical role as a backup center, and honed the three-point shot that made him a unique modern big. His resilience paid off with a multi-year contract, solidifying his place as a reliable two-way player who can protect the paint and stretch the floor, a journey from draft question mark to essential rotation piece.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jalen was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jalen Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Jalen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
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
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
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 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 10th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2020 NBA Draft.
- Averaged a career-high 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game with the Indiana Pacers in the 2022-23 season.
- Recorded his first NBA double-double in December 2021 with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Stix' was given to him in high school due to his thin build.
He majored in Family Science at the University of Maryland.
He played for the same AAU program, Team Takeover, as former NBA star Kevin Durant.
“I'm not trying to be my dad; I'm just trying to be the best version of me.”
