Larry Hughes
A versatile guard whose defensive genius and scoring bursts made him a unique and coveted NBA talent for 14 seasons.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 23·Generation X
Biography
Larry Hughes entered the league with the electric promise of a top-10 pick, a combo guard with length and scoring instincts. His early years were a tour of rebuilding franchises, but he found his defining identity with the Washington Wizards. Paired with Gilbert Arenas, Hughes transformed into a defensive menace, leading the NBA in steals during the 2004-05 season and earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team. That season was a masterpiece: he averaged 22 points, six rebounds, and nearly five assists, becoming the league’s ultimate two-way backcourt threat. His subsequent big contract with Cleveland placed him next to a young LeBron James, where injuries sometimes muted his impact, but his role as a veteran leader on contending teams was undeniable. Beyond his play, he channeled his experience into the Larry Hughes Basketball Academy, focusing on youth development.
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.
Larry was born in 1979, 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 Larry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Larry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
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
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
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
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
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 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the entire NBA in total steals (176) and steals per game (2.9) during the 2004-05 season.
- Named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2005 for his performance with the Washington Wizards.
- Averaged a career-high 22.0 points per game during his All-Defensive season in 2004-05.
- Played in the 2007 NBA Finals as a starting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Did You Know?
He played only one season of college basketball at Saint Louis University before declaring for the NBA draft.
Hughes wore jersey number 32 for much of his career as a tribute to his brother, Justin, who passed away from heart complications.
He founded the Larry Hughes Basketball Academy in St. Louis to train young athletes.
His son, Larry Hughes Jr., has played college basketball at Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois.
“I just wanted to be a two-way player, to be known for my defense as much as my scoring.”
