Jarrett Allen
The Cleveland Cavaliers' defensive anchor, whose shot-blocking prowess and signature afro make him a central figure in the team's identity.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 21·Generation Z
Biography
Jarrett Allen's rise in the NBA is a story of steady, unflashy excellence. The Round Rock, Texas native chose to stay close to home for college, becoming a defensive force for the Texas Longhorns. Drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2017, he quickly became a fan favorite not just for his rim-protecting skills but for his ever-expanding afro. His trade to Cleveland in 2021 as part of the James Harden blockbuster deal proved transformative. In Ohio, Allen found a perfect home, evolving into the defensive heart of a young Cavaliers team on the rise. His first All-Star selection in 2022 was a recognition of his impact—a player who dominates the paint with quiet efficiency, sets punishing screens, and finishes with authority, all while sporting one of the league's most recognizable hairstyles.
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.
Jarrett was born in 1998, 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 Jarrett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Jarrett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
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
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named an NBA All-Star in 2022 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Led the NBA in field goal percentage during the 2020-21 season while playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Recorded a career-high 29 rebounds in a single game in March 2022, showcasing his elite prowess on the glass.
Did You Know?
He is known for never having cut his hair since the eighth grade, leading to his iconic large afro.
He is an avid fan of the anime series 'Dragon Ball Z' and has referenced it in social media posts.
In high school, he was also a talented swimmer and played the cello.
“I just let it grow. It's become a part of me.”
