Maurice Taylor
A smooth-scoring big man from Detroit whose NBA career was defined by a polished low-post game and a journeyman's path.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 30·Generation X
Biography
Maurice Taylor arrived in the NBA with the polished footwork and soft touch of a classic back-to-the-basket power forward. A standout at the University of Michigan, he was a first-round pick for the Los Angeles Clippers in 1997, bringing hope to a struggling franchise. 'Mo' Taylor's game was built on crafty moves in the paint, a reliable mid-range jumper, and a scorer's mentality. His tenure with the Clippers showed flashes of his potential, but his career ultimately unfolded as that of a valued role player for several teams, including the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. While he never became an All-Star, Taylor was the kind of efficient offensive weapon coaches could plug into a lineup for instant points. After his NBA days, he took his talents overseas, playing in Italy and China, extending a professional journey that spoke to his enduring love for the game.
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.
Maurice was born in 1976, 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 Maurice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Maurice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
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
1992Could drive
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
1994Could vote
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
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 14th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers after leaving the University of Michigan early.
- Averaged double-digit scoring in six of his ten NBA seasons, with a career high of 13.8 points per game in 2000-01.
- Played in 34 playoff games across stints with the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks.
Did You Know?
He was involved in the trade that sent Steve Francis from the Houston Rockets to the Orlando Magic in 2004.
In his final NBA season, he played for the Sacramento Kings, teammates with Ron Artest (Metta Sandiford-Artest).
He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines alongside other future NBA players like Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock.
“I worked in the post with my back to the basket.”
