Jose Calderon's Basketball Journey: How It All Began

when did jose calderon start basketball

José Manuel Calderón Borrallo, born on September 28, 1981, is a Spanish basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Toronto Raptors. On August 3, 2005, Rob Babcock persuaded Calderón to sign with the Raptors, and he played mostly off the bench in his rookie season (2005-06). He went on to have a successful international career, winning medals for Spain's national youth team and later appearing for the Spain national team.

Characteristics Values
Full Name José Manuel Calderón Borrallo
Date of Birth September 28, 1981
Main Inspiration for Basketball His father, who used to play basketball for the village's team, Doncel La Serena
Basketball Career 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA
NBA Teams Raptors, Pistons, Mavericks, Knicks, Hawks, Lakers, Cavaliers
NBA Record Highest free throw percentage in a season (98.1% in 2008-09)
International Career Gold medal at the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship; Bronze medal at the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship; FIBA World Cup title in 2006; Two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012; Bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics; EuroBasket title in 2011, two silver medals in 2003 and 2007, and a bronze in 2013
Retirement Announced retirement from the NBA on November 4, 2019
Post-Retirement Roles Special assistant to the executive director of the NBPA (2019-2020); Special advisor to the Cleveland Cavaliers (from 2022)

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José Calderón's rookie season was in 2005-06 with the Toronto Raptors

José Manuel Calderón Borrallo, born on September 28, 1981, is a Spanish basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA. Calderón's rookie season was in 2005-06 with the Toronto Raptors. He signed with the Raptors on August 3, 2005, and played mostly off the bench in his first season. Known as a talented playmaker, Calderón initially struggled with his shooting in his rookie year. By the end of the season, he had improved significantly, ranking third among all rookies in assists with 4.5 per game. He finished the season with 64 games played, starting in 11 of them. He averaged 5.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and had an impressive assists-per-turnover ratio of 2.85.

Calderón remained with the Raptors for several seasons, sharing point guard responsibilities with TJ Ford. In the 2007-08 season, Jarrett Jack was brought in as Calderón's back-up, and the two shared ball-handling duties with Hedo Türkoğlu. Despite an injury that sidelined him for 12 games, Calderón combined well with Jack to help the Raptors achieve a 21-20 record at the mid-season mark. Calderón set an NBA record with the Raptors in the 2008-09 season, achieving the highest free throw percentage in a season at 98.1%.

During the 2010 offseason, Calderón was almost traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, but the deal fell through, and he remained with the Raptors. In 2011-12, he averaged 9.8 points, 8.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game with the Raptors. Calderón eventually left the Raptors and went on to play for several other NBA teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He retired from the NBA in 2019 and took on a role as a special assistant to the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association.

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He was born in 1981 in Villanueva de la Serena, Spain

José Manuel Calderón Borrallo was born on September 28, 1981, in Villanueva de la Serena, Spain. Known for his highly efficient playing style, Calderón played basketball professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA. He is best known for his time with the Toronto Raptors, with whom he set an NBA record for the highest free throw percentage in a season (98.1% in 2008-09).

Calderón's basketball career began in his home country of Spain. He played for the Spain national youth team, winning a gold medal at the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and a bronze medal at the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. As his career progressed, he began to appear for the Spain national team. In 2002, the team finished fifth at the FIBA World Championship, and in 2003, they won silver at the EuroBasket.

Calderón was born and raised in Villanueva de la Serena, a town in Spain's western region of Extremadura. The town has a rich history, dating back to the Roman era, and is known for its cultural and natural attractions, including the Roman theatre and the nearby Serena Reservoir. It is a charming and vibrant place, with a strong sense of community and a passion for sports, particularly basketball.

Growing up in Villanueva de la Serena, Calderón developed a love for basketball at a young age. He honed his skills on the local courts, playing with friends and neighbours. The town supported and celebrated his talent, and as he progressed in his career, he became a source of inspiration and pride for the community. The local basketball court, where Calderón took his first shots, has since been renamed in his honour, reflecting the town's deep connection to their local hero.

Villanueva de la Serena holds a special place in Calderón's heart. He returned to his hometown on May 23, 2010, to welcome the birth of his first child, Manuel, with his wife, Ana Hurtado. The couple chose to introduce their son to the world in the place that had nurtured and shaped Calderón, reflecting the strong ties and fond memories he has for his hometown.

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In 2013, he signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks

José Manuel Calderón Borrallo, born on September 28, 1981, is a Spanish basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Toronto Raptors.

In 2013, Calderon signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The deal was a significant departure from the Mavericks' usual strategy, as they had typically favoured one-year contracts over multi-year deals. The Mavericks were attracted to Calderon's intelligence, shooting accuracy, and ability to run an offense. Calderon's playmaking style was also expected to complement the team's offense built around Nowitzki.

Before signing with the Mavericks, Calderon had a successful career with the Raptors, setting an NBA record for the highest free throw percentage in a season (98.1% in 2008-09). He was also a talented playmaker and an efficient player, with impressive averages in points, assists, and turnovers per game.

However, some concerns surrounded Calderon's ability to penetrate, and there were questions about his long-term effectiveness over the full four years of the contract. Despite this, the Mavericks valued his consistency and trusted him to improve the team's passing and overall performance.

Calderon's career also included notable achievements with the Spain national team, where he won a FIBA World Cup title in 2006, two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

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He retired from the NBA in 2019 and became a special assistant to the executive director of the NBPA

José Calderón is a Spanish basketball player who played professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA. He was born on September 28, 1981, in Villanueva de la Serena, Spain, where his father played basketball for the village team, Doncel La Serena. Calderón's father was his main inspiration for taking up the sport.

Calderón signed with the Toronto Raptors on August 3, 2005, marking the beginning of his NBA career. He played mostly off the bench in his rookie season (2005–06) and was known for his talent as a playmaker. By the end of that season, he had ranked third among all rookies in assists, with 4.5 per game.

Calderón went on to have a successful NBA career, playing for several teams, including the Raptors, Pistons, Mavericks, Knicks, Hawks, Lakers, and Cavaliers. He is particularly known for his smooth stroke at the charity stripe and holds the second-longest streak in NBA history for consecutive free throws made (87) in the 2008–09 season.

On November 4, 2019, Calderón announced his retirement from the NBA. The same day, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced that he had joined them as the special assistant to the executive director for the 2019–20 NBA season. In this new role, Calderón stepped away from his playing career but remained involved in the sport, bringing his wealth of experience to a more administrative role within the NBA.

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Calderón is a co-owner of an organic pig farm

José Manuel Calderón Borrallo, born on September 28, 1981, is a former basketball player who played professionally for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA. He is best known for his time with the Toronto Raptors, with whom he set an NBA record for the highest free throw percentage in a season (98.1% in 2008-09). Aside from his successful basketball career, Calderón is also a co-owner of an organic pig farm.

In an interview with Jeramie McPeek for HOOP magazine, Calderón confirmed his involvement in the pig farming business. He clarified that he is not the sole owner of the farm but is indeed a co-owner, selling ham in Spain and attempting to expand into the Canadian and US markets. The pig farm is located in Spain, specifically in the region known for producing the best ham, as Calderón intended to bring the high-quality ham to North America.

Calderón's pigs are fed a unique diet consisting primarily of walnuts, ensuring that the meat produced is entirely organic. He emphasizes that his motivation for entering the pig farming industry is purely business-oriented, rather than a personal affinity for pigs. However, he acknowledges that pigs can be really nice animals sometimes.

The organic pig farm reflects Calderón's diverse interests and entrepreneurial spirit beyond his basketball career. It showcases his business acumen and his desire to promote high-quality Spanish products, such as organic walnut-fed pig meat, on an international scale. This venture allows him to explore opportunities outside of basketball and connect with a different industry, demonstrating his multifaceted talents and interests.

Frequently asked questions

José Calderón started his professional basketball career in 2005 when he signed with the Toronto Raptors.

José Calderón joined the NBA in 2005 when he signed with the Toronto Raptors.

José Calderón played basketball for 21 years, including 14 seasons in the NBA. He announced his retirement from the NBA in 2019.

José Calderón played as a point guard.

José Calderón played for the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

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