Jamaal Magloire
A bruising NBA center who became a hometown symbol, transitioning from an All-Star player to a front-office pillar for the Toronto Raptors.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: May 21·Generation X
Biography
Jamaal Magloire brought a physical, no-nonsense presence to the NBA paint for over a decade. The Toronto-born big man made his name as a classic enforcer: a rebounder, shot-alterer, and space-eater who did the gritty work that often goes unnoticed. After a standout college career at Kentucky, his professional journey took him through eight different teams, but his peak came with the New Orleans Hornets. There, his consistent double-double production earned him an All-Star selection in 2004, a rare honor for a player whose game was built on force rather than finesse. His career came full circle when he signed with his hometown Toronto Raptors, becoming a veteran leader. That connection deepened after retirement, as he moved into the Raptors' front office, serving as an ambassador and development consultant, bridging the team's history with its community.
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.
Jamaal was born in 1978, 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 Jamaal Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jamaal's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
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
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
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 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2004 while playing for the New Orleans Hornets.
- Averaged a double-double (10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds) during the 2003-04 All-Star season.
- Played 12 seasons in the NBA for eight different franchises.
- Currently serves as a basketball development consultant and community ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.
Did You Know?
He is one of only a handful of Canadian-born players to be named an NBA All-Star.
He won an NCAA championship with the University of Kentucky in 1998.
His father, Cassius Magloire, was a professional soccer player.
He was drafted 19th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2000 NBA Draft.
“You have to be physical, you have to be tough, you have to set a tone in the paint.”
