Luther Head
A clutch-shooting guard whose buzzer-beating heroics propelled the University of Illinois to a national championship game appearance.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 26·Millennials
Biography
Luther Head's basketball story is one of explosive peaks defined by a single, magical collegiate season. At the University of Illinois, he formed one-third of the 'Illini Three Guards,' a dynamic backcourt that captivated the sport in 2005. That year, Head was the team's cold-blooded closer, hitting a series of critical, late-game shots that carried the Fighting Illini all the way to the NCAA championship game, where they narrowly lost to North Carolina. His professional journey never quite matched that collegiate zenith. Drafted in the first round by the Houston Rockets, he bounced around the NBA and overseas leagues as a role player, his scoring bursts providing flashes of that earlier brilliance. While his NBA tenure was solid, his legacy remains inextricably tied to that Illinois team and his reputation as a player who wanted the ball when the clock was running down.
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.
Luther 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 Luther Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Luther'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
- Was a starting guard for the 2004-05 University of Illinois team that went 37-2 and reached the NCAA championship game.
- Hit a game-winning three-pointer to beat Arizona in the 2005 NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight round.
- Selected 24th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2005 NBA Draft.
- Played seven seasons in the NBA for five different teams, averaging 7.6 points per game over his career.
Did You Know?
In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, he made a crucial steal and layup in the final seconds to secure a win over Louisville in the Final Four.
He led the Big Ten Conference in three-point field goal percentage during his senior season at Illinois.
He and his Illinois teammates Dee Brown and Deron Williams were collectively known as the 'Illini Three Guards.'
“You have to be ready when your number is called, no excuses.”
