PJ Dozier
A lengthy and versatile guard who fought from undrafted free agent to NBA champion, proving his value as a defensive specialist on the game's biggest stage.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 25·Millennials
Biography
PJ Dozier's professional journey is a textbook case of perseverance. After leading South Carolina to a historic Final Four run in 2017, he went undrafted, a setback that only fueled his grind. He carved out his early career in the G League and on short-term NBA contracts, using his 6'6" frame and defensive versatility to catch the eye of contenders. His breakthrough came with the Denver Nuggets, where he became a trusted rotational piece known for his defensive intensity and ability to guard multiple positions. This role culminated in the ultimate payoff: contributing to the Nuggets' 2023 NBA championship. Following that high, his career took him overseas to Turkey, where he continues to play at a high level, embodying the modern basketball journeyman who maximizes every opportunity.
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.
PJ was born in 1996, 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 PJ Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
PJ's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
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
2009Became a teenager
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
2012Could drive
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
2014Could vote
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
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship as a member of the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
- Helped lead the University of South Carolina to its first NCAA Men's Final Four in program history in 2017.
- Earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in the G League in 2018.
- Signed a multi-year standard NBA contract with the Denver Nuggets in 2020 after initially joining on a two-way deal.
Did You Know?
He is the son of former college basketball player Perry Dozier Sr. and the nephew of former NBA player Terry Dozier.
He played in the same AAU program, Team United, as NBA players like Bam Adebayo and Dennis Smith Jr.
He recorded a triple-double in the G League for the Maine Red Claws in 2019.
He wore number 35 for the Denver Nuggets as a tribute to his cousin, former NFL player Kevin Dozier.
“They said I wasn't ready, so I got back in the gym.”
