Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed information about John Starks:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: John Levell Starks
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born August 10, 1965
  • Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m)
  • Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers #3, #9, and #20 during his NBA career
  • Position: Shooting guard / Point guard
  • High School: Central High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
  • College:
    • Rogers State College
    • Northern Oklahoma College
    • Tulsa Junior College
    • Oklahoma State University
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 1988
  • Teams Played For:
    • Golden State Warriors (1988–1989)
    • New York Knicks (1990–1998)
    • Golden State Warriors (1998–1999)
    • Chicago Bulls (1999–2000)
    • Utah Jazz (2000–2002)
  • Championship Rings: None (reached the NBA Finals in 1994 with the Knicks but lost to the Houston Rockets)
  • Kids: 3 children: John Jr., Chelsea, and Tiara Starks
  • Siblings: John Starks has six siblings, but their names are not widely disclosed.

John Starks’ player archetype was that of a fiery two-way shooting guard: a tough, emotional perimeter scorer who brought edge, shot-making, and hard-nosed defense to the backcourt. Defensively, he worked as an on-ball stopper who picked up tough guard assignments and used his competitiveness, strength, and aggression to make scorers uncomfortable; offensively, he functioned as a scoring guard and secondary playmaker who could attack off the dribble, hit pull-ups and threes, and create bursts of offense without being a pure lead guard. At 6-foot-5 and roughly 190 pounds, Starks had good size for the position and played with far more force than finesse, and his overall style was built on intensity, confidence, physicality, streak shooting, and the kind of fearless energy that fit the Knicks’ bruising identity in the 1990s. (NBA)

Fun Facts

  • John Starks is best remembered for his time with the New York Knicks, where he became a fan favorite due to his intense style of play and emotional performances.
  • His iconic dunk over Michael Jordan and Horace Grant, famously called “The Dunk,” remains a highlight of his career.
  • Starks was named an NBA All-Star in 1994 and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1997.
  • Despite going undrafted, Starks carved out a successful NBA career and is regarded as one of the league’s great underdog stories.

Sources:

NBA.com — John Starks | Guard | New York Knicks
Basketball-Reference — John Starks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft …
NBA.com — John Starks | New York Knicks
Bleacher Report — Super Starks: The Story and Legacy of John Starks