Ben McLemore
A sweet-shooting guard whose NBA journey became a nine-year tour of the league, his pure jump shot sought after by contenders but never finding a permanent home.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 11·Millennials
Biography
Ben McLemore entered the league with the prototype of a modern NBA skill: a beautiful, high-arcing three-point shot. At Kansas, he was a scoring sensation, a fluid athlete who could light up the scoreboard from deep. Selected seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings, he showed flashes of that potential, setting a franchise rookie record for three-pointers. But consistency and defensive limitations kept him from solidifying a starting role. What followed was a nomadic career defined by his one elite talent. He became a hired gun, bouncing from Memphis to Houston to the Lakers and Portland, often signed by teams in need of floor-spacing. He would have hot streaks, reminding everyone of the pure form that made him a lottery pick, but could never quite secure a long-term niche, his career embodying the life of a specialist in a league constantly searching for the next versatile two-way player.
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.
Ben was born in 1993, 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 Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
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
2011Could vote
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
2014Turned 21
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
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected with the 7th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
- Set the Sacramento Kings franchise record for three-pointers made by a rookie (158 in the 2013-14 season).
- Played in the NBA for nine seasons across five different franchises.
- Averaged a career-high 10.1 points per game during the 2016-17 season with the Sacramento Kings.
Did You Know?
He grew up in a very challenging environment in St. Louis and was raised largely by his older brothers.
He was a highly-rated high school recruit and played in the 2012 McDonald's All-American Game.
During his time with the Houston Rockets, he set a personal record by making 8 three-pointers in a single game in 2020.
“I just try to stay ready and knock down the open shot when it comes.”
