Lavoy Allen
A second-round draft pick who carved out a nine-year NBA career as a relentless rebounder and dependable defensive presence.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 4·Millennials
Biography
Lavoy Allen's path to the NBA was not marked by early hype, but by a steady, grinding evolution. A late bloomer who didn't focus on basketball until his teens in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, he developed into a formidable big man at Temple University under coach Fran Dunphy. Known for his soft hands, high basketball IQ, and a deceptively effective mid-range jumper, Allen was the anchor of Temple's tough, defensive-minded teams. Drafted 50th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011, he immediately proved his value as a reliable rotation player, starting playoff games as a rookie. His game was never about flashy stats; it was about positioning, team defense, and securing possessions. After a trade to the Indiana Pacers, he became a trusted veteran role player for teams that consistently contended in the Eastern Conference, embodying the blue-collar work ethic that defined his journey from a relative unknown to a durable NBA professional.
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.
Lavoy 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 Lavoy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Lavoy'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
- Played nine seasons in the NBA as a reliable power forward/center for the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers.
- Started 12 playoff games as a rookie for the 76ers in their 2012 run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
- Was a key defensive contributor for Indiana Pacers teams that reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons (2014-2016).
- Finished his Temple University career as the program's all-time leader in rebounds for a three-year player.
Did You Know?
He majored in criminal justice at Temple University.
He did not play organized basketball until the eighth grade, focusing more on football earlier in his youth.
In high school, he was also a standout track and field athlete, competing in the shot put and discus.
“I set a screen to free a shooter, and that is enough.”
