John Jenkins (basketball)
A sharpshooter whose journey took him from Vanderbilt standout to a globe-trotting professional career defined by a pure and reliable jump shot.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 6·Millennials
Biography
John Jenkins built his name on one elite, repeatable skill: shooting the basketball. At Vanderbilt, he led the nation in three-pointers and left as the school's all-time leader in the category, a testament to his effortless stroke. Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, his NBA career was a series of opportunities defined by that same skill, though injuries and roster fluctuations limited his tenure. What followed was a remarkable basketball odyssey. Jenkins became a quintessential journeyman, not just between NBA cities, but across continents. He brought his lethal shooting to leagues in Spain, China, Israel, France, and beyond, often as a primary offensive option. His story is less about stardom in one place and more about the universal currency of a specialist's talent, allowing him to build a long, respected career on courts 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.
John was born in 1991, 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 John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
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
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
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
2007Could drive
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
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
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
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the NCAA in three-point field goals made during the 2010-11 season while at Vanderbilt.
- Finished his Vanderbilt career as the school's all-time leader in three-pointers made.
- Scored a career-high 22 points in an NBA game for the Atlanta Hawks against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was a high school teammate of NBA player Brandan Wright at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee.
Jenkins played in the NBA G League for the Westchester Knicks, where he was a standout performer.
His professional travels include stints in Romania and Russia, in addition to more prominent European leagues.
“My job is simple: catch, square up, and shoot.”
