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Denver Nuggets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nuggets

By Phil Watson

Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the Denver Nuggets logo on the floor prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the Denver Nuggets logo on the floor prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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PORTLAND, OR - 1985: Calvin Natt #33 of the Denver Nuggets rebounds against the Portland Trailblazers at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon circa 1985. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – 1985: Calvin Natt #33 of the Denver Nuggets rebounds against the Portland Trailblazers at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon circa 1985. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

<strong>How acquired: </strong>Trade, Portland Trail Blazers, June 7, 1984.. PF-SF. 1984-89. Calvin Natt . 13. player. 73

The Denver Nuggets were giving up a star in Kiki Vandeweghe when they traded the high-scoring forward to the Portland Trail Blazers in June 1984 in exchange for Calvin Natt, Fat Lever, Wayne Cooper, a second-round pick in 1984 and a first-round selection in 1985.

As it turns out, the deal was a steal for Denver.

DEN_13_NATT
DEN_13_NATT /

Natt was an All-Star in 1985 and was a stalwart in Denver before a knee injury shortened his career.

In January 1989, Natt was traded with Jay Vincent to the San Antonio Spurs for Darwin Cook and Dave Greenwood.

Natt’s career changed when he tore an ACL on opening night of the 1986-87 season, as he came back to play in only 65 games over the final three years of his career.

In parts of five seasons with the Nuggets, Natt averaged 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 28.5 minutes per game, shooting .523/2-for-11/.790.

That came despite being asked to play power forward at just 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds.

The eighth overall pick out of what was then called Northeast Louisiana (now Louisiana-Monroe) by the New Jersey Nets in the 1979 NBA Draft, Natt was traded to Portland as a rookie in February 1980.

After leaving the Nuggets, Natt was waived by San Antonio in February 1989—less than a month after he was acquired. He signed with the Indiana Pacers in October 1989 and retired after the 1989-90 campaign.

His field-goal percentage of .528 is 39th in NBA history.

Next: Tremendous Scorer And 2-Time All-Star

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