Darrun Hilliard
A versatile and tenacious wing who carved out a solid professional career after being a cornerstone of Villanova's transformative basketball program.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 13·Millennials
Biography
Darrun Hilliard's basketball journey is one of steady growth and professional resilience. At Villanova University, he evolved from a role player into a team captain and All-Big East selection, helping lay the groundwork for the Wildcats' future national championship success. Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2015, his NBA path was one of grit, bouncing between the Detroit Pistons, where he saw his most consistent minutes, and brief stints with other teams. When the NBA chapter closed, Hilliard didn't falter; he reinvented himself as a star in the highly competitive EuroLeague. Playing for powerhouse clubs like CSKA Moscow and FC Bayern Munich, he proved his scoring and defensive prowess on a global stage, demonstrating the adaptability and skill that defines a lasting professional career.
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.
Darrun 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 Darrun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Darrun'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
- Named First Team All-Big East in 2015 as a senior leader for the Villanova Wildcats.
- Played 98 games in the NBA across three seasons with the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.
- Won the German Bundesliga championship and the German Cup with FC Bayern Munich in 2023.
Did You Know?
He scored a career-high 28 points in an NBA game for the Detroit Pistons against the Orlando Magic in 2016.
Hilliard played his high school basketball at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the same school that produced NBA player Larry Holmes Jr.
He wears jersey number 12, a number he also wore at Villanova.
“My job is to make open shots and guard my yard.”
