DeAndre Jordan
A defensive anchor whose thunderous alley-oops and shot-blocking prowess redefined the value of a traditional, paint-bound center in the modern NBA.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American basketball player·Birthday: July 21·Millennials
Biography
DeAndre Jordan made the NBA All-Star team once and led the league in rebounding twice. Standing nearly seven feet tall with a wingspan that helped him control the paint, he built a 16-year career on rim protection, screen-setting, and finishing alley-oops. After one season at Texas A&M, he entered the draft and landed with the Los Angeles Clippers. There, point guard Chris Paul fed him for lob after lob, turning the duo into the centerpiece of 'Lob City.' Jordan led the NBA in field goal percentage five times, a mark driven almost entirely by dunks and put-backs. He never developed a jump shot or expanded his offensive game beyond the paint, but his timing, strength, and defensive presence kept him on contending rosters for over a decade. He reigned as a stylistically pure center who maximized his specific skills.
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.
DeAndre was born in 1988, 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 DeAndre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
DeAndre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
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
2001Became a teenager
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
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
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
2009Turned 21
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
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned an NBA All-Star selection in 2017 and was named to the All-NBA First Team that same year.
- Led the entire NBA in rebounding during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
- Led the NBA in field goal percentage for five consecutive seasons (2013-2017).
- Won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Did You Know?
He was a highly recruited high school football player as a tight end and defensive end.
He owns the Clippers franchise record for most rebounds in a single game (27).
During the 2015 free agency period, his verbal commitment to the Dallas Mavericks and subsequent return to the Clippers was a major NBA storyline dubbed 'The DeAndre Jordan Emoji Party.'
“I just try to be a force in the paint, protect the rim, and get every rebound.”
