Jordan Farmar
A crafty Los Angeles point guard who won two NBA titles with his hometown Lakers before forging a successful second act in Europe.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 30·Millennials
Biography
Jordan Farmar's basketball journey is a tale of hometown dreams realized and a global game mastered. A local star at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, he stayed home to play for UCLA, where his poise and playmaking helped revive the Bruins' storied program. Drafted by the Lakers in 2006, he became a sparkplug off the bench for the Kobe Bryant-led teams that won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. His role was defined by timely three-pointers and a heady command of the offense. After his NBA career, Farmar didn't fade away; he reinvented himself as a star in European basketball, most notably leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to a EuroLeague title in 2014. His career arc demonstrates the skill and adaptability required to excel at the highest levels on two continents.
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.
Jordan 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 Jordan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jordan'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 two NBA championships as a key reserve guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
- Led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a EuroLeague championship in 2014, earning Final Four MVP honors.
- Named the Los Angeles Times High School Player of the Year in 2004 after averaging over 27 points per game.
Did You Know?
He holds dual American and Israeli citizenship.
Farmar briefly left the Lakers in 2010 to play for the New Jersey Nets, then returned to the team for a second stint in 2013.
He co-founded the sports performance company 'Trained' with former Lakers teammate Paul George.
“I stayed ready so I never had to get ready.”
