Seth Jones
The son of a NBA player who chose the ice, he blossomed into a smooth-skating, elite defenseman and a pillar of Team USA's blue line.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: October 3·Millennials
Biography
Seth Jones was born with basketball in his blood as the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, but the ice called to him. His upbringing across different NHL cities gave him a front-row seat to professional sports, and he chose hockey's unique blend of grace and grit. A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, his talent was so evident that he was selected fourth overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, ahead of many older players. Jones's game is defined by effortless skating, poised puck-moving, and a calm that belies the game's chaos. From Nashville to Columbus to Chicago, he has been a number-one defenseman, logging massive minutes in all situations. For Team USA, he has been a central figure in international competitions, embodying the new era of American-born blueliners who can dominate with skill and hockey IQ.
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.
Seth was born in 1994, 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 Seth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Seth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
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
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
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
2010Could drive
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
2012Could vote
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
2015Turned 21
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
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.
- Finished fourth in voting for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2018.
- Represented the United States at the IIHF World Championship and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Did You Know?
His father, Popeye Jones, played for six different NBA teams and is now an assistant coach.
He and his brother Caleb (also an NHL player) were drafted by the same NHL team, the Nashville Predators.
He played roller hockey before switching to ice hockey full-time.
“I chose the ice over the hardwood; hockey's speed is my language.”
