Josh Powell
A journeyman big man whose relentless hustle earned him two NBA championship rings with the Lakers, proving that role players are championship glue.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 25·Millennials
Biography
Josh Powell's basketball journey is a map of the global game. The North Carolina State product went undrafted in 2005, a setback that forged a career defined by adaptability and grit. He carved out a niche as a hard-working, physical forward, bouncing between the NBA, Europe, and leagues across Asia and South America. His defining moments came with the Los Angeles Lakers, where his willingness to do the dirty work—setting bone-crunching screens, battling for rebounds—made him a valuable piece of back-to-back title teams in 2009 and 2010. Powell never stayed anywhere long, but he left each stop with a reputation for professionalism, completing a rare triple crown of championships by adding a EuroLeague title with Olympiacos in 2013. His path underscores the reality of professional sports for most: a relentless, globe-trotting pursuit of opportunity.
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.
Josh was born in 1983, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
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
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
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
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won back-to-back NBA championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
- Captured the EuroLeague championship with Greek powerhouse Olympiacos in 2013.
- Played professional basketball on five different continents over a 15-year career.
- Appeared in over 300 NBA regular season and playoff games across seven different franchises.
Did You Know?
He played college basketball at North Carolina State alongside future NBA star Julius Hodge.
Powell's first NBA stint was a brief 4-game appearance with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2005-06 season.
He has played professionally in countries including Russia, Argentina, China, the Philippines, and Australia.
Powell was part of the Golden State Warriors team that famously upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA playoffs.
“My role was to bring energy and do whatever the team needed.”
