Kareem Rush
A sharpshooting guard whose clutch NBA playoff performances, particularly with the Lakers, cemented his reputation as a specialist from beyond the arc.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 30·Generation X
Biography
Kareem Rush emerged from the University of Missouri as a scoring threat with a smooth left-handed stroke. Drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2002, his NBA journey found its most memorable chapter with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was during the 2004 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons that Rush had his moment in the spotlight, coming off the bench to hit critical three-pointers that kept the Lakers competitive. While he played for several teams over eight seasons, including a stint with the Indiana Pacers where he averaged a career-high, that Laker tenure defined his professional identity. After his NBA career, Rush continued playing professionally overseas, demonstrating the longevity and global reach of a skilled shooter's trade.
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.
Kareem was born in 1980, 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 Kareem Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kareem's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
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
2010Turned 30
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
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a career-high 15.2 points per game during the 2005-06 season with the Charlotte Bobcats.
- Hit six three-pointers in Game 6 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, helping the Lakers advance.
- Played a key bench role for the Los Angeles Lakers during their run to the 2004 NBA Finals.
- Averaged double-digit scoring in two different NBA seasons.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Brandon Rush, also played in the NBA and won two championships with the Golden State Warriors.
He played high school basketball at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2000 while at Missouri.
He and his brother Brandon are one of few pairs of brothers to both win NBA championships.
“My left hand was ready when my number got called in the Finals.”
