Manny Harris
A scoring machine from the streets of Detroit who carved out a lasting professional career through sheer grit, becoming a revered figure in the NBA's G League.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 21·Millennials
Biography
Manny Harris, a Detroit basketball prodigy, carried a storied high school career into the University of Michigan, where he became an All-Big Ten guard known for his explosive scoring. Despite going undrafted in 2010, his relentless work ethic earned him a spot with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he had flashes of brilliance, including a 27-point game against the Boston Celtics. Harris's NBA journey was that of a tenacious journeyman, bouncing between the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks on short-term contracts, always fighting for a roster spot. His true legacy, however, was written in the NBA G League. There, he was a dominant force, setting scoring records and earning MVP honors, proving himself as one of the most prolific players in the league's history. His path exemplifies the resilience of players who operate just outside the NBA's brightest lights, achieving greatness on their own terms through perseverance.
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.
Manny was born in 1989, 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 Manny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Manny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
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
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
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 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2010 while playing for the Michigan Wolverines.
- Scored a career-high 27 points in an NBA game for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Boston Celtics in 2011.
- Became the NBA G League's all-time leading scorer during the 2018-19 season (a record later broken).
- Earned NBA G League MVP and All-Star Game MVP honors in 2017.
Did You Know?
His given first name is Corperryale L'Adorable.
He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring during the 2008-09 college basketball season.
He played for Al Riyadi Beirut in Lebanon after his time in the NBA G League.
In high school, he was named Michigan's Mr. Basketball in 2007.
“I just kept working, kept grinding, and eventually the call came from Cleveland.”
