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José Manuel CalderonSpanish professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 28.09.1981
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Early Life and Professional Debut
- Career in Spain
- Entry into the NBA
- Breakthrough in Toronto
- Continued NBA Success
- National Team Success
- Brief Stint with Golden State Warriors
Early Life and Professional Debut
José Manuel Calderón Navarro, a Spanish professional basketball player, was born in Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz, Spain on September 28, 1981. In 1999, he made his professional debut for Alicante, a team in the Spanish second division. He played a crucial role in the team's promotion to the top division in 2000.
Career in Spain
Calderón moved to the top-flight club Fuenlabrada in 2001. While not a regular starter, he was recognized as the league's most promising player at the end of the season. From 2002 to 2005, he played for one of Spain's top basketball clubs, TAU Cerámica. Calderón contributed to TAU's victory in the Spanish Cup in the 2003-2004 season. He also led them to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2005, where they were defeated by Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Entry into the NBA
On August 3, 2005, Calderón signed with the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. Despite showcasing his skills as a playmaker and three-point specialist in Spain, he initially struggled to make an impact in the NBA during his first season.
Breakthrough in Toronto
In the 2006-2007 season, the Raptors acquired T.J. Ford from the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving Calderón as his backup. Although he played less, he improved his productivity. An injury to Ford early in the 2007-2008 season allowed Calderón to establish himself. He became the starting point guard, averaging 5th in the league in assists and 10th in three-point percentage. With Ford traded to the Indiana Pacers in the off-season, Calderón became a pivotal player for Toronto, signing a new contract in 2008.
Continued NBA Success
In the 2008-09 season, Calderón set an NBA record for the highest free throw percentage in a season, hitting 98.1% (151 out of 154). In 2013, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He then joined the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent in 2013, signing a four-year deal worth $28 million. In 2014, he was traded to the New York Knicks.
National Team Success
Calderón has enjoyed significant success with the Spanish national team. He was crowned European Junior Champion in 1998 and won the bronze medal at the European Under-20 Championship. In 2006, he became a World Champion, averaging 7.2 points and 3.2 assists. He also contributed to Spain's silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and their victory at the 2011 European Championship.
Brief Stint with Golden State Warriors
In 2017, the Golden State Warriors acquired Calderón, but released him two hours later. Despite not playing a single minute, he earned $415,000 in compensation. The Warriors paid him because the agreement to sign him was verbal, and they decided they needed a forward due to Kevin Durant's injury.