Kenneth Faried
Nicknamed 'the Manimal' for his ferocious energy, he became a college rebounding king and a fan favorite in the NBA with his relentless hustle.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 19·Millennials
Biography
Kenneth Faried didn't look like a typical NBA star, but he played with a volcanic intensity that made him impossible to ignore. At Morehead State, he was a rebounding machine, crashing the boards with a singular fury that eventually made him the NCAA's modern-era rebounding leader. The Denver Nuggets took a chance on him in the 2011 draft, and he instantly became a Mile High City cult hero. His game was all heart, grit, and explosive leaps, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team and a role on the 2014 USA Basketball World Cup team. Though his style was taxing, it fueled a solid NBA career before he took his boundless energy to leagues in China, Puerto Rico, and Europe, proving that effort is its own kind of talent.
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.
Kenneth was born in 1989, 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 Kenneth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Kenneth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
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
1994Started school
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
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
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
2007Could vote
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
2010Turned 21
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
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the NCAA's modern-era (post-1973) all-time leading rebounder with 1,673 boards, a record he held for over a decade.
- Named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year twice during his career at Morehead State.
- Selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2012 after being drafted 22nd overall by the Denver Nuggets.
- Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'Manimal,' was given to him by a college assistant coach for his aggressive playing style.
Faried led the entire NCAA in rebounding for two consecutive seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11).
He is of Lebanese descent through his great-grandfather and has expressed interest in playing for the Lebanese national team.
“I get every rebound not because I'm tall, but because I want it.”
