Kendrick Perkins
A bruising NBA champion center who transformed from a raw high-school prospect into the defensive anchor of a title-winning Celtics team.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Kendrick Perkins carved out a 14-year NBA career defined by sheer physicality, defensive grit, and an old-school mentality that often made him the emotional center of his teams. Drafted straight out of Clifton J. Ozen High School in Texas by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003, he was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics, where his game and persona matured. Under the tutelage of veterans and a demanding coaching staff, Perkins evolved from a project into a starting center whose primary job was to bang bodies, protect the rim, and set bone-rattling screens. His peak came in 2008, when his defensive presence alongside Kevin Garnett was instrumental in Boston's championship run. A serious knee injury in the 2010 Finals was a turning point, but he later became a veteran leader for the Oklahoma City Thunder's contending teams. In retirement, his blunt, unfiltered opinions made him a prominent and often polarizing voice on ESPN's NBA coverage.
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.
Kendrick was born in 1984, 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 Kendrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kendrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA Championship as the starting center for the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.
- Started in 70 games during the Celtics' 66-win championship season in 2007-08.
- Played a key defensive role in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 and 2010.
- Was the starting center for the Oklahoma City Thunder team that reached the NBA Finals in 2012.
Did You Know?
He was the last player from the 2003 NBA Draft class to retire from playing.
He wears jersey number 43 in honor of his childhood idol, former NFL running back Troy Hambrick.
He is a distant cousin of former NFL quarterback Joe Webb.
He is known for his extensive sneaker collection.
“I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win.”
