David West (basketball)
A power forward whose cerebral approach and unshakeable leadership made him a foundational piece for two NBA championship teams late in his career.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American basketball player·Birthday: August 29·Generation X
Biography
David West's game was a study in controlled force. At Xavier University, he evolved from a talented prospect into the national player of the year, a testament to his relentless work ethic. In the NBA, he became the heart of the New Orleans Hornets, an All-Star whose mid-range jumper was a weapon and whose presence in the locker room commanded respect. His move to Indiana solidified his identity as the soul of a hard-nosed, defensive-minded contender. But West's legacy was cemented in his final chapters. Willing to take a reduced role and salary, he brought his veteran savvy and fierce intelligence to San Antonio and then Golden State. There, he operated as a floor-general from the post, a mentor to younger stars, and a stabilizing force for teams navigating the pressures of championship pursuit. He retired not just with rings, but with the universal respect of peers who valued his substance over style.
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.
David was born in 1980, 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 David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
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
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
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
2010Turned 30
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
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2008 and 2009 while with the New Orleans Hornets.
- Named the National College Player of the Year in 2003 after his senior season at Xavier University.
- Averaged a double-double (points and rebounds) for four consecutive NBA seasons (2006-2010).
Did You Know?
He graduated from Xavier with a degree in communications and is an avid reader of history and philosophy.
He turned down more lucrative offers to sign with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015, prioritizing a chance to win.
He was known for his distinctive, high-arcing mid-range jump shot.
“I'm not a guy who's going to wow you with athleticism. I'm going to wow you with execution.”
