Nazr Mohammed
A durable and respected NBA journeyman center who carved out an 18-year career through professionalism, rebounding grit, and clutch playoff moments.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 5·Generation X
Biography
Nazr Mohammed's path to NBA longevity was one of constant evolution. A standout at the University of Kentucky, where he won a national championship in 1996, he entered the league as a raw, athletic big man. He didn't become a star, but he mastered the art of role-playing. Mohammed was the reliable backup center who set solid screens, battled for rebounds, and provided veteran presence in the locker room. His career took him to eight different teams, including a key stint with the San Antonio Spurs where he learned championship habits. He is perhaps best remembered by fans for a single, explosive play: a put-back dunk over LeBron James in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals while with the Chicago Bulls. After retiring, he smoothly transitioned into a front-office role with the Oklahoma City Thunder, scouting and developing the next generation of talent.
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.
Nazr was born in 1977, 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 Nazr Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Nazr's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
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
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two NBA championships: one with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and one as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1999 (though he played limited minutes).
- Averaged a double-double (9.5 points, 10.3 rebounds) during the Atlanta Hawks' 2002 playoff series against the New Jersey Nets.
- Played in 1,005 regular-season NBA games, a testament to his durability and value as a role player.
- Won an NCAA national championship with the Kentucky Wildcats in 1996.
- Currently serves as the General Manager of the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) and a pro scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Did You Know?
He is of Ghanaian descent, with his full name being Nazr Tahiru Mohammed.
He owns a minority stake in the NBA's Chicago Bulls.
Mohammed was traded mid-season during the Philadelphia 76ers' run to the 2001 NBA Finals.
He is known for his philanthropic work in Chicago, particularly with youth basketball programs.
“My role was to set the hard screen, grab the rebound, and protect the paint.”
