Phil Pressey
A pass-first point guard whose basketball IQ and playmaking vision made him a respected floor general, despite his undrafted path to the NBA.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 17·Millennials
Biography
Phil Pressey’s basketball story is one of defying physical expectations. The son of former NBA player Paul Pressey, he grew up with the game in his blood, but at 5'11", he was perpetually told he was too small. At the University of Missouri, he silenced critics by becoming the program's all-time assists leader, a dynamic engine for fast-paced teams. His undrafted status in 2013 didn't deter him; he clawed his way onto the Boston Celtics roster with sheer guile, earning a reputation as a tenacious defender and a brilliant passer who could thread needles others didn't see. While his NBA playing career was brief, his understanding of the game proved lasting, leading him to a swift transition into coaching. He now imparts his hard-earned wisdom as a head coach in the G League, teaching a new generation that vision and intellect can outweigh mere measurements.
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.
Phil was born in 1991, 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 Phil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Phil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
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
2009Could vote
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
2012Turned 21
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
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the University of Missouri's all-time leader in assists with 580 over his collegiate career.
- Earned an NBA contract with the Boston Celtics as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
- Recorded a career-high 13 assists in an NBA game for the Celtics in December 2014.
- Appointed head coach of the NBA G League's Maine Celtics in 2024.
Did You Know?
His father, Paul Pressey, was a defensive stalwart in the NBA and is often credited as a precursor to the 'point forward' role.
He played high school basketball at Dallas' Episcopal School of Dallas, the same school that produced NBA players like Julius Randle.
In his NBA debut for the Celtics, he tallied 7 assists in just 16 minutes of play.
He and his father are one of few father-son duos to both play for the Boston Celtics franchise.
“My height is just a number on a roster. My game is the real stat.”
