Jeremy Pargo
A journeyman point guard whose relentless playmaking made him a fan favorite across three continents, from Tel Aviv to Beijing.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 17·Millennials
Biography
Jeremy Pargo carved out a distinctive career defined by toughness and a passport full of stamps. Emerging from Gonzaga, where he was a floor general for the Bulldogs, he bypassed a predictable path for a global adventure. His peak came in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where his bulldog defense and fearless drives helped propel the team to the 2011 EuroLeague Final, earning him All-EuroLeague honors. That stint established his reputation as a winner overseas. He later had a brief, memorable NBA moment with the Cleveland Cavaliers, famously dunking on Kevin Durant, but his true dominance was as a league assists leader in both Israel and China. Pargo’s story is one of a competitor who maximized his talent everywhere the game took him, leaving an imprint as a pure, old-school point guard.
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.
Jeremy 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 Jeremy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jeremy'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
- Earned All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2011 after helping Maccabi Tel Aviv reach the EuroLeague Final.
- Led the Israeli Basketball Premier League in assists during the 2014-2015 season.
- Topped the Chinese Basketball Association in assists for the 2016 season.
- Played a key role for Gonzaga, reaching the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen in 2006 and 2009.
Did You Know?
He is the younger brother of former NBA player Jannero Pargo.
His brief NBA tenure included a viral highlight where he dunked over Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.
He played for 13 different professional teams across the NBA, Europe, and Asia over his career.
“I'm a bulldog on defense; that's my identity on the court.”
