Thaddeus Young is an American professional basketball player who plays as a power forward for the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. Young began his NBA career in 2007 when the Philadelphia 76ers picked him up in the draft.
Before entering the NBA, he briefly played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He excelled as a freshman and immediately went for the draft after his first season.
Since his debut, Thad has spent playing excellent games for various teams in the NBA. Even though he has never lifted the NBA championship ring, he has kept his mark with his miraculous presence on the court for all these years.
In 2022, the player associated with the Raptors to continue his NBA league journey after playing a season for the Spurs.
The NBA veteran is already over thirty and still going strong. His fans can still hope to see the best from him for more years.
This article will take you through Thad’s early life, venture into the wonderful world of the NBA, personal life, and much more.
But before moving into the details, here are some quick facts about Thaddeus Young.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Thaddeus Charles Young Sr. |
| Known As | Thaddeus Young/ Thad Young |
| Date Of Birth | June 21, 1988 |
| Birth Place | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Nick Name | Magic, Thagic |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Age | 35 Years Old |
| Height | 2.03 m / 6 ft 8 in / 203 cm |
| Weight | 235 lb / 107 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Felton Young |
| Mother’s Name | Lula Hall |
| Siblings | Four sisters And A Brother |
| Siblings’ Name | Not Available |
| Education |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Wife’s Name | Shekinah Beckett |
| Kid | Two Sons |
| Kids’ Names | Thaddeus Jr., Taylor Young |
| Profession | Former Professional Basketball Player, Basketball Analyst |
| NBA Draft | 2007 |
| Position | Power Forward |
| League | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Active Years | (2007–Present) |
| Net Worth | $37 Million |
| Currently Plays For | Toronto Raptors |
| Former Clubs |
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| Jersey Number | 21 |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
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| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
| Merch | Autographed Card |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Early Life, Family & Education
Thaddeus Young was born Thaddeus Charles Young Sr. on June 21, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the son of Felton Young and Lula Hall.
His father, Felton, was a basketball player, and he used to play college basketball for Jacksonville University. He was drafted in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves.
Felton taught Young to play basketball at a very young age. Thad was tall and strong even as a child, so he was enthusiastic about playing sports.
The athlete used to study in a local school in Louisiana and play basketball with his father in their home yard.
His mother, Lula, was a very hard-working and strong woman. But, as they were from a lower-middle-class family, their life was not easy.
So, Lula used to work as a manager at Popeyes Kitchen in New Orleans to reach the needs of her family.
His parents tried to give him as much time as they managed to spare from their work. So that he could develop his basketball skills and get time to practice as well.
However, everything changed when their parents separated when he was just a fourth grader.
Thad moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his mother and sisters. Moreover, he then attended Mitchell High School in Memphis and played high school basketball there.
Lula supported her family by working at a company in Memphis. Her children, including Thad, helped her with household chores and grew up together.
Young continued playing basketball with his mother’s support at Mitchell. After completing his high school education, Thagic enrolled in the Georgia Institute of Technology to play college basketball and continue his studies.
Young’s mother passed away from breast cancer in 2014 at age 57.
Career
High School Career
After transferring to the Mitchell School in Memphis, Thad soon became the top basketball player among his teammates. He earned a place in their varsity team and began playing tournaments as an eighth-grader.
His performance throughout the first year was excellent. With the coaches’ guidance and his friend’s help, he became a much-refined player and led his team to numerous big victories.
The power forward was considered one of the most promising young talents in the country while still in his junior year.
He had excellent stats throughout his junior and senior seasons as well. His game led his team to the TSSAA Class AA finals in 2006.
He won many honors during his four years at Mitchell High School, including the 2006 Gatorade Best Player of The Year (Tennessee). Apart from being the most gifted player, he excelled in his studies.
After graduating with a high GPA, he enrolled in the Georgian Institute of Technology in Atlanta to pursue his college career.
College Career
The Tennessee native got an amazing opportunity to showcase his talent at Georgia Tech and utilize it to his full potential. In his rookie season, he started all the games he played.
Thaddeus proved his abilities in all aspects of the game, constantly scoring points for his team. He won the hearts of many with his rebounds and quick steals.
His rookie season at the university became his only season at college. After finishing his first season with good numbers, he decided to forgo his last three college years and declared to go for the NBA Draft.
He was the youngest of Georgia Tech’s 2006 first-year class to attend the NBA Draft in 2007.
He finished his debut season with averages of 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Professional Career
The 76ers chose him as the 2007 NBA Draft’s first-round 12th pick on June 28. He made his NBA debut on November 7 against the Charlotte Bobcats, which ended with their win.
However, he did not initially get much playtime as the team already had experienced shooting guards. But after they traded Kyle Korver, he started appearing for them often on the court.
Thad played 74 matches in his rookie season, starting 22 of them. He finished the season with an average of 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
He played six more NBA seasons for the 76ers playing about four playoffs with them. However, he could not lead them to win the championship ring ever. Eventually, the club transferred him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014.
Even though Thad was giving his peak performance at the time, the Timberwolves gave him very little playtime. He played just 48 matches in the 2014-15 season, but his points per game were double digits.
Playing For Different Teams
He played one NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2016. After that, young spent three seasons with the Pacers. While there, he started every game he played for them.
Although he was doing well for the Pacers, they could not keep him after three seasons. Consequently, he signed with the Chicago Bulls on July 6 after the Pacers released him after the 2018-19 season.
He played for two seasons for the Bulls from 2019 to 2021.
The veteran player currently plays for the Toronto Raptors. He played for the San Antonio Spurs before being traded to the Raptors on February 10, 2022.
Young signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Raptors on June 30.
According to reports on January 9, 2023, Thaddeus Young argued with his teammate Scottie Barnes at the half of their game while playing against Portland.
Both had a disagreement which later turned into an argument; however, Raptor’s Barnes said it was nothing serious, and everything was fine between them. He said, “That’s my boy, I love Thad.”
Awards & Achievements
Some of his awards & Achievements include:
- NBA Hustle Award (2021)
- McDonald’s All-American (2006)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2008)
- Second-team Parade All-American (2006)
- Tennessee Gatorade Player of The Year (2006)
Age, Weight & Height
The NBA player is 35 years of age, and his horoscope is Cancer.
He currently weighs around 235 lbs.
Moreover, he stands 2.03 meters tall. He has black-colored hair and brown eyes.
Wife & Kids
Thaddeus Young is married to his long-time girlfriend, Shekinah Beckett. Thad and Shekinah first met in 2004 when he was in high school. He and Beckett were introduced through her cousin.
After dating for about seven years, the duo eventually engaged on October 31, 2011. Their engagement was arranged at his home, and their close friends and family attended it.
The couple already had a son named Thaddeus Jr., born before marriage. They welcomed their first son back in 2011 and married in 2012.
Even though it was hard for Beckett to adjust together with Thad’s lifestyle, she quickly caught up.
Even though he is a busy and hard-working player, he tends to give much time and concentration to his game. However, Beckett is very understanding and respects his profession.
They bond greatly, and she visits him during his matches with their kids. Also, Thad is a family person and knows how to make his family members happy.
In 2014, Shekinah gave birth to their second son, Taylor.
Net Worth, Salary & Career Earnings
The Raptor’s shooting guard has accumulated much wealth through the league games.
According to various sources, Thaddeus Young has an estimated net worth of $37 million as of April 2024. However, the exact number is unknown.
Thad began his NBA career with the 76ers in 2007. The team had paid him about $1.83 million for his rookie season alone.
from his games in six more seasons with the 76ers, he had accumulated around $30.4 million.
He earned nearly $20 million in two seasons after going to the Nets.
Thad plays for the Toronto Raptors, where his annual salary is about $14.2 million. He has already accumulated wealth worth over $140 million from his NBA career to date.
Furthermore, Thad has been working as the CEO of a private investment company named Reform Ventures. It focuses on various areas such as healthcare, digital media, techs, etc.
He is the owner and one of the founding members of a fitness center named Shoot 360 Memphis in Collierville, Tennessee.
Social Media
Thaddeus Young updates about his family, friends, and his career on his social media.
View this post on Instagram
Instagram: @thad.young21 with 203k followers
Twitter: @yungsmoove21 with 72k followers
Popularity Graph
Thaddeus Young is a professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Toronto Raptors.
The above graph shows Young’s popularity over the past twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Is Thaddeus Young still in the NBA?
Yes, Thaddeus Young is still in the NBA. Even though he is already over thirty, he is still fit to play and doing well in the ongoing NBA season. Furthermore, he has not yet talked about his retirement.
Does Thaddeus Young still start the game?
Thaddeus young often started the game when he was a young player. Now that he is almost at the end of his career, he rarely starts them.
When did Thaddeus Young last start?
On 14 December 2022, Thaddeus Young last started the match against Sacramento Kings as Christian Koloko was to the bench.
