Ricky Davis
An explosive and audacious NBA swingman known for fearless scoring bursts and a memorable, controversial triple-double attempt.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 23·Generation X
Biography
Ricky Davis entered the league with a scorer's mentality and a flair that made him impossible to ignore. Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1998, the Iowa product bounced through five teams in his first four seasons, a talent in search of a system that would unleash him. He found a temporary home with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where for two seasons he averaged over 20 points per game, becoming a human highlight reel of acrobatic dunks and deep threes. His tenure there, however, is often overshadowed by an infamous 2003 incident where he intentionally shot at his own basket to secure a tenth rebound for a triple-double—a move that perfectly encapsulated his unpredictable, boundary-pushing style. Later, as a valuable sixth man for the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, he showed a more mature, team-oriented game. Davis's 12-year career stands as a testament to pure, unapologetic offensive confidence in an era of increasing structure.
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.
Ricky was born in 1979, 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 Ricky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ricky's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
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
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
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
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
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
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Averaged a career-high 20.6 points per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2002-03 season.
- Scored 1,000 points in a season for three different NBA franchises (Cleveland, Boston, Minnesota).
- Played in 12 NBA seasons, appearing in over 700 regular season games.
- Recorded 19 points in a single quarter for the Boston Celtics in 2005.
Did You Know?
He famously attempted to secure his own missed shot at the wrong basket to complete a triple-double, a move the NBA later nullified.
Davis wore jersey number 31 for most of his career as a tribute to his idol, Tracy McGrady.
He was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the deal that brought them a draft pick used to select LeBron James.
He played for nine different NBA teams during his professional career.
“I just let the game come to me and play my style, that's all I can do.”
