DeMarre Carroll
A self-made NBA journeyman who carved out an 11-year career through relentless hustle, becoming the prototype '3-and-D' forward.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: July 27·Millennials
Biography
DeMarre Carroll started for the Atlanta Hawks' 60-win team in 2015. He had bounced through five teams in his first five seasons, labeled a 'tweener' who lacked a clear position. Under coach Mike Budenholzer, he developed into a reliable corner three-point shooter and a switchable defender. This 3-and-D role became his signature. He signed a major contract with Toronto, where he helped anchor a tough defensive squad. After 11 NBA seasons, his career provides a blueprint for players who succeed through adaptation and work ethic rather than natural pedigree.
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.
DeMarre was born in 1986, 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 DeMarre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
DeMarre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
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
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a starting forward for the Atlanta Hawks team that won 60 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015.
- Played 11 seasons in the NBA for eight different franchises, appearing in 578 regular season games.
- Averaged a career-high 12.6 points per game during the 2014-15 season with the Hawks.
- Named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 while playing for the University of Missouri.
Did You Know?
He is nicknamed 'The Junkyard Dog' for his relentless, gritty style of play.
He overcame a life-threatening liver disease that required a transplant when he was a child.
He played college basketball for both Vanderbilt and Missouri, transferring after his sophomore year.
He is the nephew of former NFL player and coach Mike London.
“I always had to fight. Nothing was ever given to me. I was always the underdog.”
