Quick Facts
- Date of birth: March 28, 1969
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- Key figure: Elliot Perry (guard; nickname: “Socks”)
- High school: Treadwell (Memphis)
- College: Memphis State/University of Memphis; four-year starter who finished his Tigers career as the program’s No. 2 all-time scorer (2,209) and had No. 34 retired
- NBA Draft: 1991, Round 2, 37th overall (Los Angeles Clippers); 10 NBA seasons (including Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies)
- Grizzlies roles: Minority owner (joined ownership group Oct. 8, 2005); long-time radio analyst
Main Story
In Memphis history, few basketball birthdays resonate like March 28, 1969 — the day Elliot Perry entered the world in the Bluff City. Raised in Memphis and starring at Treadwell High, Perry stayed home for college, starting every game across four seasons for Memphis State. He powered the Tigers to four straight postseason bids and left campus as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,209 points; the University later retired his No. 34, cementing his legacy in 901 hoops lore.
Perry was selected 37th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft and played 10 seasons in the league, most notably with the Phoenix Suns, before closing his playing career with his hometown Memphis Grizzlies in 2001–02. Known for his high socks — and relentless playmaking — he bridged his on-court career to community leadership almost immediately.
On October 8, 2005, Perry joined the Grizzlies’ ownership group and, beginning in 2006–07, took a seat on the franchise’s radio broadcasts, a role he continues in today. Beyond the mic, Perry’s civic footprint includes youth mentorship and philanthropy through the Grizzlies Foundation and his SOCKS Fund, helping connect the city’s next generation to opportunity from neighborhood gyms to Beale Street.
Legacy
Elliot Perry’s birthday marks more than a personal milestone; it signals a Memphis story of talent returning home. As a Tiger great, NBA veteran, investor, and broadcaster, Perry has helped anchor professional basketball’s place in the Bluff City while modeling sustained community involvement. His journey keeps Memphis fans — and Memphis kids — connected to the game and to each other, a win for the city’s culture, identity, and ongoing 901 story.
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