Remembered just as he was then in the shiniest of all shining moments, two-time NCAA champion Christian Laettner nonetheless turns 50 in August.
Can that possibly be?
"That's right," he said. "My knees feel like I'm 50 and my back, too. It's hard to believe, but time flies."
You're reminded that his Duke teammate, Grant Hill, now is 27 years older because you've seen him working with his graying beard in NCAA tournament broadcasts leading to this weekend's Final Four in Minneapolis, site of the Blue Devils' historic title in 1992.
Same, too, with another famous former teammate, Bobby Hurley. And, of course, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. Both coached teams on this season's road to U.S. Bank Stadium, even if Krzyzewski's hair still is pitch black after these many years.
But in many ways, Laettner remains 22 years old in the mind's eye, because of the most iconic shot made in a tournament history overflowing with them.
His buzzer-beating shot defeated Kentucky in an overtime East Region final for the ages. It also completed Laettner's perfect shooting performance — 20-for-20, including free throws and field goals — that sent Duke to the Metrodome and a repeat championship not achieved since John Wooden's UCLA teams two decades earlier.
That moment — Hill's heaved, full-court entry pass with 2.1 seconds left, Laettner's catch above the free throw line, one dribble and turnaround shot that swished as time expired — still is replayed this time every year. Strangers ask Laettner about it nearly every day of his life.