Jarell Martin
A versatile forward who carved out a global championship-winning career after his NBA chapter, proving his worth on courts across three continents.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 24·Millennials
Biography
Jarell Martin's basketball path is a testament to adaptability and the global nature of the modern game. A highly-touted recruit from Baton Rouge, he stayed home to play for LSU, where his athleticism and inside-outside potential made him a first-round NBA draft pick. His time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic showed flashes of his skill, but he found his most consistent success by taking his talents overseas. In Australia with the Sydney Kings, he evolved into a dominant force, using his NBA-honed strength and improved shooting to become a championship piece. He didn't stop there, adding an Israeli League title with the storied Maccabi Tel Aviv. Martin's story isn't about unfulfilled potential; it's about a player who redefined success on his own terms, becoming a valued and trophy-lifted professional in leagues around the world.
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.
Jarell was born in 1994, 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 Jarell Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Jarell's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
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
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
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
2015Turned 21
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
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Israeli Basketball Premier League championship with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2023.
- Secured the NBL championship with the Sydney Kings in the 2021-22 Australian season.
- Selected 25th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2015 NBA Draft after his sophomore year at LSU.
- Averaged a career-high 7.7 points per game during the 2017-18 season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2014 after a standout first year at Louisiana State University.
Did You Know?
He was a standout football wide receiver in high school before focusing solely on basketball.
At LSU, he and teammate Jordan Mickey formed a formidable frontcourt duo, both blocking shots and scoring in the paint.
He played for the Orlando Magic during the 2018-19 season, appearing in 42 games.
His father, Jarell Martin Sr., played college basketball at Southern University.
“My game is built on the boards and in the paint, wherever the team needs me.”
