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Throughout the history of the NBA, which boasts over 5,000 players, each day of the year has seen at least one athlete born on it, including three players who celebrate their birthdays on February 29. Our detailed exploration of players born on each specific day continues below.
Here are the most prominent NBA players born on January 8.
**Calvin Natt (1957)**
Chosen as the eighth overall selection in the 1979 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, Natt made an immediate impact as a forward. He had a stellar rookie season, averaging 19.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals, which made his in-season trade to the Portland Trail Blazers quite unexpected. Nonetheless, he spend the next five years in Portland before transferring to the Denver Nuggets in 1984. During his first year with the Nuggets, he earned his only All-Star selection. Natt enjoyed the best phase of his career during a decade-long stretch, putting up averages of 18 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He concluded his career with brief spells at the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs, eventually retiring in 1990.
**Willie Anderson (1967)**
Anderson was chosen 10th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft and began his professional career with the San Antonio Spurs, where he played for his first seven seasons. In his rookie year, he made a strong impression, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting with averages of 18.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks, marking his career-best performance. Throughout his tenure in San Antonio, he maintained an average of 13.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals. After his time with the Spurs, he played for the New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat in the final three years before retiring in 1997. He continued his basketball journey overseas for two more years.
Curious to know about all NBA players born on January 8? Below is the complete list in chronological order:
