Will Bynum
An explosive undersized guard who became a cult hero in Detroit and a champion abroad with his fearless drives to the basket.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 4·Millennials
Biography
Will Bynum's basketball story is a classic tale of overcoming the odds. Undrafted out of Georgia Tech, he refused to let his lack of height—listed at just six feet—define his ceiling. He carved out his first professional success in Israel, earning Finals MVP honors and proving he could dominate. This paved his way to the NBA, where he found a home with the Detroit Pistons. In Detroit, Bynum became a human highlight reel off the bench, known for his blinding speed, clever finishes in traffic, and a knack for delivering in clutch moments. His 26-assist game in the D-League stood as a record for years, a testament to his playmaking vision. While his NBA tenure was as a sparkplug, his legacy extends to a decorated overseas career where he was a prolific scorer and a leader, finally capturing a Chinese CBA championship in 2016.
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.
Will was born in 1983, 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 Will Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Will's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
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
2004Turned 21
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
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
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 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP in 2007 after leading Hapoel Jerusalem to the championship.
- Set the NBA D-League single-game assists record with 26 for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2010 (a record later broken).
- Won the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship with the Sichuan Blue Whales in 2016.
- Played five seasons for the Detroit Pistons, becoming a fan favorite for his energetic, high-octane style of play.
Did You Know?
He scored a career-high 26 points in an NBA game for the Detroit Pistons against the Washington Wizards in 2009.
Bynum and fellow Chicago native Derrick Rose were high school basketball rivals before both reaching the NBA.
He holds the record for most points scored in a single game for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese CBA, with 60 points in 2016.
“They said I was too small, so I made my speed a weapon they couldn't measure.”
