Jordan McRae
A high-scoring guard whose journey from a late draft pick to an NBA champion epitomizes the relentless hustle required to stick in the league.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 28·Millennials
Biography
Jordan McRae's basketball story is one of explosive scoring and persistent reinvention. At the University of Tennessee, he transformed from a role player into a First-Team All-SEC scorer, showcasing the offensive flair that would become his trademark. Despite a prolific college career, he slipped to the 58th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, a position that often spells obscurity. McRae refused to let that be his fate. He honed his craft in the NBA's developmental league, where he once dropped 61 points in a game, forcing his way onto rosters. His persistence paid off with a golden ticket: a spot on the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, where he earned an NBA championship ring. What followed was a global basketball odyssey, with McRae becoming a scoring sensation in leagues from China to Israel, proving that a scorer's touch translates anywhere on the map.
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.
Jordan 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 Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Jordan'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
- Won an NBA championship as a member of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Scored a career-high 36 points for the Washington Wizards in a 2019 game against the Detroit Pistons.
- Named to the All-NBA G League First Team in 2016 after averaging 24.3 points per game for the Delaware 87ers.
- Earned First-Team All-SEC honors in his senior season at the University of Tennessee.
Did You Know?
He is the son of former NFL wide receiver, Thaddeus McRae.
He scored 61 points in a single NBA G League game for the Delaware 87ers in 2016.
He led the Israeli Basketball Premier League in scoring during the 2022-23 season while playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
“I'm a scorer. I've always been a scorer, and I'll always find a way to put the ball in the basket.”
