Bo Outlaw
A high-flying, shot-blocking force of energy who became one of the NBA's most beloved role players despite going undrafted.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 13·Generation X
Biography
Bo Outlaw's path to a 14-year NBA career was anything but conventional. Overlooked in the draft after playing at the University of Houston, he clawed his way into the league through sheer will and an infectious, boundless motor. He wasn't a star scorer, but his impact was visceral: a whirling dervish of blocked shots, thunderous dunks, and relentless hustle that ignited crowds and frustrated opponents. Outlaw found his perfect home with the Orlando Magic in the late 1990s, where his defensive versatility and alley-oop chemistry with Penny Hardaway made him a fan favorite. His game was pure joy and effort, a testament to how a player defined by intangibles—energy, heart, selflessness—could carve out a long and respected tenure. He was the ultimate glue guy, making teams better simply by playing harder than anyone else on the floor.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bo was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Bo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
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
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 14 seasons in the NBA for four different teams, appearing in over 900 games despite not being drafted.
- Led the NBA in field-goal percentage during the 1997-98 season, shooting an astonishing 63.2% from the field.
- Finished in the top 10 in the league for blocks per game twice during his tenure with the Orlando Magic.
- A key defensive contributor for the Magic team that reached the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Bo' is short for 'Bobo', which his grandmother called him as a child.
He famously wore prescription goggles on the court due to poor eyesight.
He was known for his exceptionally large hands, which aided his rebounding and shot-blocking.
After retiring, he worked in community relations and as a player development assistant for the Orlando Magic.
“I just go out and play hard every night; that's my job.”
