Jason Smith (basketball, born 1986)
A dependable seven-footer whose twelve-year NBA tenure was built on smart screens, soft touch, and professional resilience.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 2·Millennials
Biography
Jason Smith’s NBA story is one of quiet consistency and survival. Coming out of Colorado State, the skilled big man was a first-round pick, but his career would be defined by adaptability. After being traded on draft night, he found a role with the Philadelphia 76ers and later the New Orleans Hornets as a floor-spacing center who could knock down mid-range jumpers. A serious knee injury in 2010 could have derailed everything, but Smith worked his way back, transforming his game to rely more on guile and fundamentals. He became a valued veteran presence for teams like the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards, respected for his high basketball IQ and team-first attitude. His dozen seasons stand as a tribute to the players who carve out long careers not with superstar numbers, but with unwavering professionalism.
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.
Jason was born in 1986, 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 Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
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
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
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
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 12 seasons in the NBA for six different franchises after being the 20th overall pick in 2007.
- Averaged a career-high 9.9 points per game with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2013-14 season.
- Led the NBA in offensive rating during the 2014-15 season as a member of the New York Knicks.
Did You Know?
He was traded by the Miami Heat on the night he was drafted, without ever playing for them.
He majored in University Studies with a focus on business at Colorado State.
He holds the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans franchise record for most blocks in a playoff game (6).
“My job was to set screens, rebound, and knock down the open shot.”
