Wally Szczerbiak
A sharpshooting forward whose smooth left-handed stroke and All-Star season made him a fan favorite and a key piece for competitive NBA teams.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 5·Generation X
Biography
Wally Szczerbiak emerged from the college courts of Miami University, where his scoring prowess made him a star and earned a permanent place in the school's history. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he quickly became known for his pure shooting form and fearless drives to the basket. His peak came in the 2001-02 season, where he earned an All-Star nod, forming a potent partnership with Kevin Garnett. Traded to Boston, then Cleveland and later Seattle, Szczerbiak was often the sought-after veteran shooter for teams looking to make a playoff push. His career, though later hampered by injuries, is remembered for its offensive efficiency and a playing style that combined grit with grace. Today, his analytical mind and clear communication have made him a respected voice as a television analyst.
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.
Wally was born in 1977, 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 Wally Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Wally's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
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
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
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
2017Turned 40
#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
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2002 while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Had his jersey number (34) retired by Miami University, one of only five basketball players in the school's history to receive the honor.
- Averaged 14.1 points per game over a 10-season NBA career, shooting 49.2% from the field.
- Played a key role for the 2003-04 Timberwolves team that reached the Western Conference Finals.
Did You Know?
His father, Walt Szczerbiak, also played in the NBA and was a first-round draft pick in 1973.
He was a standout baseball player in high school and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1995, but chose to play college basketball.
He is of Polish descent, and his surname is pronounced 'Zer-biak'.
“I worked on my shot every single day until it was automatic.”
