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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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ABA Basketball: Denver Nuggets Mack Calvin (20) in action vs Indiana Pacers Kevin Joyce (43) at Denver Coliseum. Denver, CO 1/3/1975 CREDIT: Heinz Kluetmeier (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X19222 TK1 R1 F2 )
ABA Basketball: Denver Nuggets Mack Calvin (20) in action vs Indiana Pacers Kevin Joyce (43) at Denver Coliseum. Denver, CO 1/3/1975 CREDIT: Heinz Kluetmeier (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X19222 TK1 R1 F2 ) /

C. 1974-75, 1977-78. Mack Calvin . 18. player. 73. <strong>How acquired: </strong>Trade, Carolina Cougars, June 20, 1974; Waivers, San Antonio Spurs, Feb. 15, 1977.

Mack Calvin had been a four-time All-Star and a three-time All-ABA selection before he was traded to the Denver Rockets in June 1974, with the Carolina Cougars receiving much needed cash in return.

Calvin kept up his All-Star ways with the newly named Nuggets, earning All-Star and All-ABA honors while leading the league in free-throw percentage (.896) and assists (7.7 per game).

David Thompson
David Thompson /

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Calvin was injured during much of his time in Virginia, and served a six-game stint as interim coach, posting an 0-6 record.

The Squires folded in May 1976 and he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, who had selected him in the 14th round of the 1969 NBA Draft out of USC.

He was traded in November 1976 to the San Antonio Spurs and returned to the Nuggets in February 1977 when he was waived by San Antonio.

Calvin stayed with Denver through the 1977-78 season, but was waived in October 1978.

In parts of three seasons with the Nuggets, Calvin averaged 12.4 points, 4.6 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 22.6 minutes per game, shooting .470/3-for-16/.876.

Signed by the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA in July 1969 after being selected somewhere between the sixth and 10th rounds in the 1969 ABA Draft, Calvin was traded to the Floridians in June 1970. In June 1972, he went to Carolina in a dispersal draft after the Floridians had folded.

After sitting out the 1978-79 season, Calvin returned to the NBA, signing as a free agent with the Utah Jazz in November 1979. In December 1980, he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing a final season before retiring after the 1980-81 season.

He ranks 20th in ABA history with 533 games, 16th with 18,267 minutes played, second with 3,067 assists, 14th with 346 steals, eighth with 10,620 points, third with a free-throw percentage of .866 and an average of 5.8 assists per game, 20th with an average of 34.3 minutes per game and 13th with an average of 19.9 points per game.

Calvin also served two games as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in February 1992, going 1-1.

Next: Never Shy About Launching It From Deep

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