Vincent Poirier
A towering French center who battled through Europe's toughest leagues to become a defensive anchor for his national team.
Born 1993 (age 33)·French basketball player·Birthday: October 17·Millennials
Biography
Vincent Poirier's path to basketball prominence was not a straight line. Born in Paris, he developed his game in the French league system, his 7-foot-1 frame and relentless energy marking him as a prospect. His breakthrough came with Baskonia in Spain's Liga ACB, where his shot-blocking and rebounding ferocity earned him All-EuroLeague honors and a move to the NBA. Stints with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers were brief but formative, before he returned to Europe as a coveted star, joining forces with Anadolu Efes. Poirier's true calling card, however, is his work with the French national team, where his physicality and defensive grit have been instrumental in their rise as a global power, culminating in a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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.
Vincent 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 Vincent Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Vincent'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 the EuroLeague championship with Anadolu Efes in 2022.
- Earned All-EuroLeague Second Team honors in 2019 while playing for Kirolbet Baskonia.
- Helped secure a silver medal for France at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
- Named the French League Best Young Player in 2016 while with Paris-Levallois.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2015 NBA Draft but did not immediately join the league.
Poirier is an avid chess player and has spoken about how the game helps his strategic thinking on the court.
He wears jersey number 17 in honor of his grandfather, who was a passionate rugby player.
“I bring energy, rebound, and protect the paint. That's my role.”
