Josh Smith
A high-flying forward who combined explosive shot-blocking with a sometimes frustrating offensive game over 13 NBA seasons.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American basketball player·Birthday: December 5·Millennials
Biography
Josh Smith, nicknamed 'J-Smoove,' exploded into the NBA straight from high school, bringing an athletic package that promised stardom. For nine seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, he was a human highlight reel, his leaping ability making him one of the league's most fearsome weak-side shot blockers from the forward position. He could ignite a fast break, finish with thunderous dunks, and even flirt with triple-doubles. Yet, his career became a complex case study of unrealized potential, as his tendency for ill-advised long-range jumpers often clashed with his elite defensive and athletic gifts. After Atlanta, he became a journeyman, providing memorable moments like a playoff performance for Houston but never fully shedding the enigma tag. His legacy is that of a spectacular defender whose offensive choices left fans and analysts perpetually debating what could have been.
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.
Josh was born in 1985, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
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
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
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
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2010 for his shot-blocking prowess with the Atlanta Hawks.
- Won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2005 as a rookie.
- Is one of only a handful of players in NBA history to record over 1,000 career blocks before the age of 30.
- Helped the Houston Rockets overcome a 3-1 deficit to reach the Western Conference Finals in 2015 with key performances off the bench.
Did You Know?
He and Dwight Howard were teammates on the Atlanta Celtics AAU team and later became NBA teammates on the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets.
He was known for wearing a single shooting sleeve on his left arm for much of his career.
He recorded a triple-double that included 10 blocks for the Hawks in 2008.
He owns a professional esports organization called 'Smoove.'
“I'll jump from anywhere to send your shot into the tenth row.”
