Glen Davis (basketball)
A bruising, emotional force off the bench, his infectious energy and key plays helped the Boston Celtics capture the 2008 NBA championship.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 1·Millennials
Biography
Glen 'Big Baby' Davis carved out a memorable NBA career defined more by sheer will and personality than pure athletic pedigree. Emerging from LSU, where he was a standout, the burly forward was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics but immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. His timing was impeccable, landing on a team built to win now. Davis provided crucial frontcourt minutes as a rookie, his physicality and surprising touch around the rim endearing him to fans during the Celtics' 2008 title run. His emotional, sometimes childlike exuberance on the court—which spawned his famous nickname—made him a cult favorite. After Boston, he played for several other teams, including the Orlando Magic, but remained defined by his role as an energetic, blue-collar contributor on a championship squad. His post-playing life has included acting and broadcasting, maintaining his larger-than-life public presence.
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.
Glen 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 Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Glen'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
- Won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 as a key rotational player.
- Named the SEC Player of the Year in 2006 while playing for Louisiana State University.
- Started 45 games for the Orlando Magic in the 2011-12 season, averaging a career-high 9.3 points per game.
Did You Know?
His 'Big Baby' nickname reportedly originated from his tendency to cry as a freshman at LSU.
He won the NBA's Community Assist Award in December 2008 for his charitable work.
He played the role of 'Wine Guard' in the 2015 comedy film 'Trainwreck'.
“I had to earn every minute on that floor with hustle and physicality.”
