Anžejs Pasečņiks
A towering Latvian center whose professional journey has spanned continents, from the NBA to leagues across Europe and Asia.
Born 1995 (age 31)·Latvian basketball player·Birthday: December 20·Millennials
Biography
Anžejs Pasečņiks turned his 7'2" frame and soft touch into a global basketball career. Drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2017 after playing college ball at George Washington University, his NBA stint was brief but formative. He quickly established himself as a reliable force in Europe's competitive leagues, with stops in Spain, Russia, and Turkey. His game is that of a classic modern big man: capable of protecting the rim, finishing in the pick-and-roll, and stretching defenses with a mid-range shot. Pasečņiks's path exemplifies the modern international player's portfolio career, adapting his skills to different styles of play from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and beyond.
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.
Anžejs was born in 1995, 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 Anžejs Was Born
The biggest hits of 1995
#1 Movie
Toy Story
Best Picture
Braveheart
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Anžejs's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1995Born
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2000Started school
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2008Became a teenager
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Could drive
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2013Could vote
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Turned 21
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2025Turned 30
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 31 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 25th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2017 NBA Draft.
- Won the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League championship with VEF Rīga in 2023.
- Played a key role for the Spanish club Gran Canaria, helping them reach the 2019 EuroCup Finals.
- Represented the Latvian national team in multiple FIBA EuroBasket tournaments.
Did You Know?
He played only one NBA game, for the Washington Wizards in 2021, scoring two points.
His sister, Kate, is also a professional basketball player.
He speaks Latvian, Russian, English, and has picked up Spanish from his time in the league there.
Before George Washington University, he played for the youth academy of VEF Rīga, a historic Latvian club.
“My height is a tool, not the whole craft.”
