Jesser
An American YouTuber who turned his passion for basketball into a digital empire, becoming the platform's most subscribed basketball creator.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American YouTuber·Birthday: March 27·Generation Z
Biography
Jesse Riedel, known to millions online as Jesser, didn't just join YouTube; he carved out a specific kingdom within it. Starting as JesserTheLazer, he focused almost exclusively on basketball content at a time when the platform's sports scene was less defined. His formula was deceptively simple: high-energy challenges, skillful trick shots, and genuine interactions with both fans and professional athletes. This authenticity, combined with a consistent upload schedule, fueled explosive growth. He built a tight-knit crew known as 2HYPE, collaborating on videos that blurred the line between fan content and professional sports media. Jesser's success lies in understanding that for a generation of fans, basketball culture lives as much on smartphones as it does on the court, and he positioned himself squarely at that intersection.
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.
Jesser was born in 1999, 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 Jesser Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Jesser's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
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
2012Became a teenager
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
2015Could drive
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
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the most-subscribed basketball-focused content creator on YouTube.
- Co-founded the influential YouTube collective and brand 2HYPE.
- Has collaborated with numerous NBA stars, including James Harden and Karl-Anthony Towns.
- Grew a multi-platform brand encompassing merchandise, gaming, and original series.
Did You Know?
He originally gained attention for his NBA 2K gameplay videos before pivoting to real-life basketball content.
His video "I Spent 24 Hours With James Harden" has garnered tens of millions of views.
He has a signature sneaker collaboration with the brand K8IROS.
“The content is just me and the boys hooping, keeping it real for the fans.”
