Khem Birch
A shot-blocking Canadian center who forged a unique path from top US college recruit to EuroLeague champion before finding a home in the NBA.
Born 1992 (age 34)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: September 28·Millennials
Biography
Khem Birch took the road less traveled to the NBA, a path that gave him a hardened, international edge. A highly-touted recruit, his initial college stint at Pittsburgh was brief and disappointing, leading him to reinvent himself at UNLV. Rather than jumping straight to the NBA draft, he made the bold choice to begin his professional career in Europe. This proved transformative. Competing in Greece and Turkey, he developed a rugged, team-oriented game, culminating in a EuroLeague championship with Fenerbahçe in 2017. By the time he finally entered the NBA, he was a finished product: a defensive anchor who understood spacing, set brutal screens, and protected the rim. His journey through the basketball wilderness made him a uniquely valuable role player, a testament to the global game's ability to forge complete professionals.
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.
Khem was born in 1992, 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 Khem Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Khem's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
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
2005Became a teenager
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
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
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
2013Turned 21
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
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the EuroLeague championship in 2017 with Turkish club Fenerbahçe, playing a key reserve role.
- Named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 while playing for UNLV.
- Represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
- Signed a multi-year contract with the Toronto Raptors in 2021 after a strong stint with the Orlando Magic.
Did You Know?
He was born in Montreal, Quebec, to Haitian parents and holds dual citizenship.
He initially committed to play college basketball for the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to UNLV.
He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, choosing to start his career in Europe instead of the NBA's developmental league.
“I bring energy, defense, and rebounding every single night.”
