Lou Amundson
A high-energy, hustle-first forward who carved out an 11-year NBA career through sheer determination, relentless rebounding, and iconic hair.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American basketball player·Birthday: December 7·Millennials
Biography
Lou Amundson's path to and through the NBA is a testament to the power of undrafted grit. After a standout college career at UNLV, he went unselected in the 2006 NBA Draft, forcing him to claw his way onto rosters through summer leagues and 10-day contracts. He became the embodiment of a 'glue guy'—a player whose value wasn't in scoring but in contagious energy, defensive effort, and crashing the boards. With his distinctive long hair and headband, Amundson was a fan favorite wherever he played, bringing a blue-collar work ethic to teams like the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors. His journey, spanning 11 seasons with 11 different franchises, stands as one of the league's great stories of perseverance and role-player excellence.
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.
Lou was born in 1982, 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 Lou Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Lou's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
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 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 11 seasons in the NBA for 11 different teams, a journeyman record that highlights his valued role-player status.
- Was a key bench contributor for the Phoenix Suns during their 2010 Western Conference Finals run.
- Won back-to-back NBA D-League championships with the Colorado 14ers in 2007 and 2008 before securing a permanent NBA roster spot.
Did You Know?
He is one of only a handful of players to have played for both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.
Amundson was a standout volleyball player in high school in Colorado.
He famously never attempted a three-point shot during his entire NBA career, taking all 1,347 of his field goal attempts from inside the arc.
“I knew my job was to bring energy, defend, and do the dirty work every night.”
