What should I have accomplished by 21?

See what remarkable builders and entrepreneurs achieved at age 21

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Notable Achievements at Age 21

Damian Lillard

Drafted 6th overall by Portland Trail Blazers

Selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

2012
100% confidence
Source
Anthony Edwards

Named to first NBA All-Star Game (reserve)

On February 10, 2023 Edwards was named an NBA All-Star for the first time (injury replacement reserve).

2023
99% confidence
Source
Baby Keem

Won Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance ('Family Ties')

'Family Ties' (with Kendrick Lamar) won Best Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (April 2022).

2022
99% confidence
Source
Justin Jefferson

Set Super Bowl-era rookie receiving yards record (season end)

Finished rookie season with 1,400 receiving yards, a Super Bowl-era rookie record at the time.

2021
99% confidence
Source
Justin Jefferson

First big breakout — 175 yards vs. Tennessee (Week 3)

In his first start he had 7 receptions for 175 yards and his first NFL TD.

2020
99% confidence
Source
Jayson Tatum

Named NBA All-Star (1st selection)

Selected as an Eastern Conference reserve for his first NBA All-Star Game (2020).

2020
99% confidence
Source
Connor McDavid

Won second consecutive Art Ross Trophy; Ted Lindsay Award; NHL First All-Star Team

Finished 2017–18 with career highs (41 goals, 108 points) and captured his second straight Art Ross, his second Ted Lindsay, and another First All-Star Team selection.

2018
99% confidence
Source
Jabari Parker

Second ACL tear — out for season

MRI revealed torn ACL in his left knee; ruled out for remainder of 2016–17 season (second tear in same knee).

2017
99% confidence
Source
Jabari Parker

Career-high 36 points

Set new career high with 36 points in a Bucks victory over the Houston Rockets.

2016
99% confidence
Source
Vitalik Buterin

Named inventor of Ethereum

Recognized in academic and popular press as Ethereum's inventor and primary author of the Ethereum white paper and core research.

2015
99% confidence
Source
Simon Minter

Co-founded Ultimate Sidemen (later 'Sidemen')

Along with KSI, Zerkaa, TBJZL and Behzinga formed the Ultimate Sidemen via GTA Online; later expanded to the seven-member Sidemen group.

2013
99% confidence
Source
Zach Sims

Launched Codecademy.com

Official public launch of Codecademy (Sims and Bubinski pushed live from their dorm room).

2011
99% confidence
Source
Stephen Curry

Selected 7th overall in 2009 NBA Draft

Curry was chosen by the Golden State Warriors with the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

2009
99% confidence
Source
LeBron James

First All-Star Game MVP of multiple (2006; later 2008, 2018)

Won the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2006 (later also in 2008 and 2018).

2006
99% confidence
Source
Ezra Klein

Graduated UCLA BA in Political Science

Transferred from UC Santa Cruz and graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 with a B.A. in political science.

2005
99% confidence
Source
Cameron Winklevoss

Conceived HarvardConnection (later ConnectU)

Along with Tyler and classmate Divya Narendra, Cameron conceived HarvardConnection, a social network for Harvard students (later renamed ConnectU).

2002
99% confidence
Source
Justin Timberlake

Released debut solo album 'Justified'

Justified debuted at #2 on Billboard 200 with first‑week sales of 439,000; sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

2002
99% confidence
Source
Justin Timberlake

NSYNC went on indefinite hiatus

Group announced an indefinite hiatus after Celebrity tour completion; members pursued solo projects.

2002
99% confidence
Source
Reshma Saujani

Graduated University of Illinois (BS)

Earned a bachelor’s degree (majors in Political Science and Speech Communication) from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

1997
99% confidence
Source
Stacey Abrams

Graduated Spelman College, magna cum laude (B.A.)

Earned a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies (political science, economics, sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude; named a Harry S. Truman Scholar (linked to graduate study).

1995
99% confidence
Source

💡 What this means for you

At age 21, you're at a pivotal point where many successful entrepreneurs made their breakthrough. Whether you're building your first company or scaling an existing one, these examples show what's possible with focus and execution.

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