Will Solomon
A journeyman guard whose professional path took him from the NBA to starring roles in top European leagues, embodying the global basketball dream.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American basketball player·Birthday: July 20·Generation X
Biography
Will Solomon carved out a career defined by adaptability and a scorer's mentality. After a standout collegiate run at Clemson, where he led the ACC in scoring, his NBA tenure was brief, with stints in Memphis and Toronto. His true legacy was written overseas, where he became a marquee name in European basketball. Solomon was a dynamic force in Turkey with Fenerbahçe and later in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where his clutch shooting and playmaking made him a fan favorite. His journey reflects the path of many American players who find their greatest success and longevity as stars in the international game, leaving a mark far from the bright lights of the league where he started.
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.
Will was born in 1978, 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 Will Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Will's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
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
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
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
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring during the 2000-01 season at Clemson University.
- Played in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors across two seasons.
- Won the Israeli Basketball Premier League championship with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2011.
- Named to the All-Euroleague Second Team in 2006 while playing for Fenerbahçe Ülker.
Did You Know?
He was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the 33rd overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.
His nickname during his time in Europe was 'Solo'.
He played professionally in seven different countries: USA, Turkey, Israel, Russia, Greece, Italy, and China.
“You adjust your game to the gym, the country, the clock—always the clock.”
