Jordan Goodwin
An undrafted guard whose relentless hustle and defensive tenacity forced the NBA to take notice, earning him a vital role on a championship-contending team.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 23·Generation Z
Biography
Jordan Goodwin's basketball story is one of sheer perseverance. A standout at Saint Louis University, he left as the only player in school history to rank top-10 in points, rebounds, and assists, embodying the definition of a do-it-all guard. Despite his collegiate production, he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. He refused to let that be the end, grinding through the NBA Summer League and earning a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards. Goodwin didn't just make the roster; he made an impact with his physical, pesky defense and a knack for crashing the boards from the guard position—a trait that quickly endeared him to coaches and fans. His breakthrough moment came in the 2022-23 season, where he seized increased minutes with explosive performances, including a triple-double, proving he belonged. Traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2023, Goodwin now brings his brand of blue-collar energy to a team stacked with stars, providing the defensive grit and hustle that championship teams often need from their role players.
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.
Jordan 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 Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Jordan'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
- Recorded a triple-double (11 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) for the Washington Wizards in January 2023, showcasing his all-around game.
- Finished his career at Saint Louis University ranked in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
- Earned a standard NBA contract with the Washington Wizards after initially signing on a two-way deal as an undrafted free agent.
Did You Know?
He and his former Wizards teammate Johnny Davis were roommates during the NBA Summer League.
In high school, he was a teammate of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis.
He led the Atlantic 10 Conference in steals during his junior year at Saint Louis.
“They said I was too short, so I learned to play ten feet tall.”
