Byron Mullens
A 7-foot center whose professional journey spanned the NBA, Europe, and the South Pacific, embodying the global basketball journeyman.
Born 1989 (age 37)·British-American basketball player·Birthday: February 14·Millennials
Biography
Byron Mullens turned a towering Ohio high school frame into a one-and-done season at Ohio State, followed by a first-round NBA draft selection. His professional path, however, would be defined by mobility rather than stardom. Over five NBA seasons, he played for four different teams—the Thunder, Bobcats, Clippers, and 76ers—often serving as a stretch-big who could shoot from distance. When his NBA opportunities waned, Mullens embraced the global circuit, a common arc for many players. His career took him to China, Turkey, Iran, and finally to New Zealand, where he played for the Manawatu Jets. Born in Ohio but holding British citizenship through his mother, Mullens's story is less about headlines and more about the sustained, adaptable career of a professional athlete finding his place in the world's many leagues.
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.
Byron was born in 1989, 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 Byron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Byron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
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
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
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 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Drafted in the first round (24th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
- Played 5 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 185 games and scoring a career-high 27 points in a 2013 game for the Charlotte Bobcats.
- Averaged a career-best 10.6 points per game during the 2012-2013 NBA season with Charlotte.
- Had a prolific professional career across multiple continents, including stints in top European and Asian leagues.
Did You Know?
He was a highly recruited high school player, participating in the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game.
He legally changed his name from Byron Mullens to B.J. Mullens early in his professional career, though he later reverted to Byron.
He holds a British passport due to his English mother.
“I just wanted to stretch the floor and knock down that three.”
