Elfrid Payton
A defensive guard with a unique hairstyle who carved out a decade-long NBA career as a relentless, pass-first floor general.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 22·Millennials
Biography
Elfrid Payton arrived in the NBA looking like no other point guard, his signature dreadlocks piled high, but he played with an old-school sensibility. Hailing from Gretna, Louisiana, he wasn't a highly-touted recruit but blossomed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where his tenacious defense earned him national honors. Drafted tenth overall in 2014, he immediately made an impact with the Orlando Magic, nearly averaging a triple-double as a rookie. Payton's game was built on aggression and vision; he attacked the rim with force and possessed an innate ability to find open teammates, racking up triple-doubles at a rate that belied his scoring output. While his outside shot remained a work in progress, his hustle and playmaking kept him in the league for ten seasons. He became a journeyman, bringing his distinctive energy to Phoenix, New Orleans, New York, and Phoenix again, proving that a player defined by grit and unselfishness could have lasting value.
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.
Elfrid was born in 1994, 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 Elfrid Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Elfrid's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
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
2010Could drive
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
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded five triple-doubles in his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, the most by a rookie since the 1990s.
- Won the Lefty Driesell Award in 2014 as the nation's top defensive player in college basketball while at Louisiana-Lafayette.
- Averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game over a ten-season NBA career with six different teams.
Did You Know?
He famously cut his trademark long hair after a bet with Magic teammate Nikola Vucevic, who shaved his head when Payton made a free throw.
His father, Elfrid Payton Sr., was a star running back at Tulane University and played briefly in the NFL.
He is one of only a handful of players in NBA history to record a triple-double in three consecutive games, which he did in March 2017.
“I just try to be aggressive, get to the paint and make plays for my teammates.”
