Will Clyburn
A versatile American wing who became a European basketball star, claiming the continent's highest honor with his clutch playoff performances.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 17·Millennials
Biography
Will Clyburn's path to the pinnacle of European basketball was anything but linear. After a nomadic college career that took him from junior college to Utah and finally Iowa State, where he shone in the NCAA tournament, he began his professional life in the relative obscurity of Germany's second division. His relentless scoring ability, however, propelled him upward through leagues in Israel and Turkey, where he evolved from a pure scorer into a complete, two-way wing. His defining chapter came with CSKA Moscow, where his athleticism, defensive versatility, and knack for big moments made him a cornerstone. The apex arrived in 2019 when he led CSKA to the EuroLeague title, earning Final Four MVP honors with a dominant 20-point performance in the championship game. Clyburn's story is one of self-made success, a player who forged an elite career overseas through adaptability and unwavering confidence in high-pressure situations.
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 1990, 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 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Will's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
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
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
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
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
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
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2019 after leading CSKA Moscow to the championship.
- Was the top scorer of the Israeli Basketball Premier League for the 2015–16 season with Hapoel Holon.
- Won multiple domestic league titles in Russia with CSKA Moscow and in Turkey with Darüşşafaka.
- Played a key role in Iowa State's run to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 in 2013, scoring 17 points in their upset win over Notre Dame.
Did You Know?
His father, William Clyburn, was a standout basketball player at South Carolina State.
He played one season at the University of Utah before transferring to Iowa State.
Clyburn wears jersey number 21 as a tribute to his father, who wore the same number in college.
He has played professionally in five different countries: Germany, Israel, Turkey, Russia, and Spain.
“My route was different, but I always knew my game would translate.”
