Solomon Hill (basketball)
A defensive-minded forward who turned a late first-round pick into a nine-year NBA career defined by grit and basketball IQ.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
Solomon Hill built an NBA tenure not on flashy scoring, but on the gritty, intelligent play that coaches crave. After a standout college career at Arizona where he evolved into a team leader, Hill was selected 23rd overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2013. He entered a league increasingly obsessed with offense, yet carved his niche as a defensive specialist and glue guy. Hill's value was in his strength, positional awareness, and willingness to guard multiple positions, often taking on the opponent's most challenging wing player. His journey saw him contribute to playoff teams in Indiana, New Orleans, and Miami, often as a trusted veteran presence off the bench. While his scoring averages were modest, his impact resonated in hustle plays, drawn charges, and a professional approach that extended his stay in the league far longer than many of his draft contemporaries.
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.
Solomon 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 Solomon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Solomon'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
- Played nine seasons in the NBA for five different franchises, including the Pacers, Pelicans, and Heat.
- Started 42 games for the Indiana Pacers during the 2015-16 season, helping them reach the playoffs.
- Was a key rotational defender for the New Orleans Pelicans team that swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 playoffs.
- Appeared in the NBA playoffs with three different teams: Indiana, New Orleans, and Atlanta.
Did You Know?
He was a communications major at the University of Arizona.
He played high school basketball at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, a notable basketball powerhouse.
In the 2016 playoffs, he famously drew a critical offensive foul on LeBron James in a pivotal Game 5.
He started his final NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks before finishing it with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.
“My job is to guard the best player and make his night difficult.”
