Brendan Haywood
A towering, defensive-minded anchor whose steady presence in the paint was crucial to an unlikely NBA championship run.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 27·Generation X
Biography
Brendan Haywood carved out a 13-year NBA career not with flashy stats, but with the gritty, uncelebrated work of a classic center. At seven feet tall, he was a space-eater, a shot-blocker, and a physical deterrent in the lane. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and quickly traded to the Washington Wizards, he became a franchise fixture for nearly a decade, providing reliable defense and rebounding. His career found its ultimate purpose with the Dallas Mavericks. As the backup to Tyson Chandler on the 2011 title team, Haywood provided essential minutes of interior toughness against Miami's stars, embodying the team's defensive resolve. After retiring, he smoothly transitioned to broadcasting, where his deep knowledge of the game's interior battles and his straightforward, analytical style made him a respected voice on CBS Sports and NBA radio.
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.
Brendan was born in 1979, 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 Brendan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Brendan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
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
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
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
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship as a key reserve center for the 2011 Dallas Mavericks.
- Played in 794 regular season NBA games over 13 seasons, starting 502 of them.
- Recorded over 700 blocked shots in his career, leading the Washington Wizards in blocks for multiple seasons.
- Started at center for Washington in 20 playoff games during their mid-2000s runs.
Did You Know?
He was a McDonald's All-American in high school and won a national championship at the University of North Carolina in 2000.
He once scored a career-high 27 points in a game for the Washington Wizards in 2005.
He and his 2011 Mavericks teammate Tyson Chandler were both born in 1979 and played the same position.
He is a frequent analyst on NBA TV's playoff coverage and SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“My role was to protect the paint and make guys think twice about coming in.”
