Skal Labissière
A Haitian-born basketball talent whose journey from earthquake survivor to NBA first-round pick is a story of resilience and skill.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Haitian basketball player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
Skal Labissière's path to professional basketball is etched with adversity and triumph. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, his life was upended by the catastrophic 2010 earthquake; he was trapped under rubble for hours before being rescued. This event propelled him to move to Memphis, Tennessee, for both safety and opportunity. His high school career at Lausanne Collegiate School made him a top national recruit, a long, agile big man with a soft shooting touch. He chose the basketball powerhouse University of Kentucky, where his single season showcased his potential despite inconsistencies. Selected in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, he was immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings. His NBA journey has been one of development, featuring flashes of his talent across several teams. More than his stats, his story represents an incredible journey of geographic and personal displacement, with basketball as his vehicle and his refuge.
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.
Skal was born in 1996, 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 Skal Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Skal's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
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
2012Could drive
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
2014Could vote
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
2017Turned 21
#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
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 28th overall in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.
- Played three seasons in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, and Atlanta Hawks.
- Named a McDonald's All-American in 2015 after a standout high school career in Memphis.
Did You Know?
He was granted humanitarian parole to live in the United States following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
He did not play organized basketball until after he moved to the United States at age 14.
His guardian and mentor in Memphis was former NBA player and coach, Dwight Lewis.
“The earthquake taught me that every moment on this court is a gift.”
