Chris Douglas-Roberts
A high-flying scorer whose college career was a masterclass in offensive creativity, leading Memphis to the brink of a national title.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 8·Millennials
Biography
Chris Douglas-Roberts emerged from the Detroit basketball scene with a unique, unorthodox style that defied easy categorization. At the University of Memphis under John Calipari, he became the engine of a Tigers team that dominated college basketball, his herky-jerky drives and mid-range game making him nearly unguardable. He led Memphis to the 2008 NCAA championship game, a run later vacated, but the memory of his on-court artistry remained. His professional journey took him from the NBA, where he had flashes of brilliance with the New Jersey Nets, to a globe-trotting career across Europe and Asia. Douglas-Roberts never lost his scoring touch or his outspoken, thoughtful perspective on the game, often sharing his insights on basketball culture and the business of sports long after his playing days.
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.
Chris was born in 1987, 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 Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
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
1992Started school
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
2000Became a teenager
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
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
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
2008Turned 21
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
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named a consensus First-Team All-American in 2008 after averaging over 18 points per game for Memphis.
- Led the Memphis Tigers to the 2008 NCAA National Championship game, setting a single-season school record for wins.
- Scored a career-high 31 points in an NBA game for the New Jersey Nets against the Chicago Bulls in 2009.
- Won the Greek Cup in 2016 while playing for AEK Athens.
Did You Know?
He is known by the initials 'CDR', which fans also interpret as 'Captain Downhill Runner' for his attacking style.
He has a large, distinctive tattoo of a cloud with a eye on his left shoulder.
He publicly discussed his struggles with depression during his NBA career in a 2015 essay for The Cauldron.
“My game isn't pretty, but it gets the job done.”
