Trajan Langdon

Trajan Langdon is a former professional basketball player and current basketball executive.

He played three seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also had an accomplished international career, primarily with CSKA Moscow, where he won multiple EuroLeague titles and earned EuroLeague Final Four MVP honors.

After retiring, Langdon transitioned to front office roles and is currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Trajan Shaka Langdon was born on May 13, 1976, in Palo Alto, California, USA. During his playing career, he stood 190 cm tall and weighed 89 kg. Langdon grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and was nicknamed the "Alaskan Assassin."

He is the son of Gladys, a social worker, and Dr. Steve Langdon, a professor of anthropology. Trajan frequently traveled throughout Alaska with his father on anthropological trips.

High School and College Career

Langdon attended East Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska, where he set the Alaska 4A state record for points scored and was a three-time Alaskan State Player of the Year.

He won a state championship and was a McDonald’s All-American in 1994, also winning the three-point shooting contest at the event.

At Duke University (1994–1999), Langdon set the school record for career three-pointers made (later broken by JJ Redick) and finished his career as a Consensus Second-team All-American in 1999.

He was a three-time First-team All-ACC selection and earned multiple All-American honors.

Professional Career

Langdon was selected 11th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played three seasons with Cleveland. After his NBA tenure, he played one season for Benetton Treviso in Italy, then for Long Beach Jam, Efes Pilsen in Turkey, and Dynamo Moscow in Russia.

From 2005 to 2011, Langdon played for CSKA Moscow, where he was a key part of two EuroLeague championships (2006, 2008), was the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2008, and named to the All-EuroLeague First Team twice and Second Team once.

He was also selected to the EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team and joined the EuroLeague 50–40–90 club twice. Langdon retired in 2011 after winning six consecutive Russian League titles with CSKA Moscow.

Following retirement, Langdon worked as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs (2012–2015), assistant GM for the Brooklyn Nets (2016–2019), and general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2024). In May 2024, he became President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons.

Career Highlights

• 2011 – Russian League champion
• 2010 – EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team
• 2008 – EuroLeague champion, EuroLeague Final Four MVP, Russian League MVP
• 2006 – EuroLeague champion, Russian Cup winner
• 2007, 2008 – All-EuroLeague First Team
• 2006 – All-EuroLeague Second Team
• 2007, 2010 – EuroLeague 50–40–90 club
• 2006–2011 – 6× Russian League champion
• 2006, 2007, 2010 – 3× Russian Cup winner
• 2004 – Turkish League champion
• 2003 – Italian League champion, Italian Cup winner
• 1999 – Consensus second-team All-American
• 1998 – Second-team All-American (Sporting News), Third-team All-American (AP, USBWA, NABC)
• 1997–1999 – 3× First-team All-ACC
• 1994 – McDonald's All-American, Second-team Parade All-American

Medal Record, Representing United States

• 1998 – Bronze – FIBA World Championship (Athens)
• 1994 – Gold – FIBA Americas U18 Championship (Santa Rosa)