Pat Connaughton
A rare two-sport professional athlete whose sharpshooting in the NBA was matched by a 95-mph fastball in baseball.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American basketball and baseball player·Birthday: January 6·Millennials
Biography
Pat Connaughton defied the standard athlete's path, operating at the highest level in two completely different professional sports. At the University of Notre Dame, he wasn't just a standout basketball guard; he was also a power pitcher for the baseball team, touching 95 miles per hour on the radar gun. This dual prowess led to a unique draft-day experience: selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft, he played a season of minor league baseball before fully committing to the hardwood. In the NBA, he carved out a vital role as a three-point specialist and energetic defender, most notably as a key rotation player for the Milwaukee Bucks during their 2021 championship run. His journey is a story of exceptional athleticism and calculated choice, proving that elite skill can translate across the chalk lines of different arenas.
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.
Pat was born in 1993, 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 Pat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Pat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
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
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
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
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, contributing crucial minutes off the bench.
- Drafted by the NBA's Brooklyn Nets (2015) and MLB's Baltimore Orioles (2014), a rare two-sport draft feat.
- Set a Notre Dame basketball record for vertical leap at 44 inches during the 2015 NBA Draft Combine.
- Played professional baseball for the Class-A Aberdeen IronBirds, posting a 2.45 ERA in his first season.
Did You Know?
His vertical leap of 44 inches is one of the highest ever recorded at the NBA Draft Combine.
He interned at a wealth management firm during the 2020 NBA offseason.
He is the founder of 'The Pat Connaughton Foundation', focused on youth development in his hometown.
He pitched in the same minor league baseball game as Tim Tebow, who was playing outfield.
“I've always been someone who wanted to prove people wrong.”
