Richard Hamilton is among the players born on Feb. 14.
With over 5,000 players in NBA history, at least one player was born on every day of the calendar year – including three leap day ballers. Our day-by-day breakdown of the players born on each day of the year continues.
Below are the most notable NBA players born on Feb 14.
Richard Hamilton (1978)
Hamilton being born on Valentine’s Day is appropriate because he was beloved by Detroit fans throughout his career. “Rip” was the seventh pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards after a stellar collegiate career at UConn. His career took off when he joined the Detroit Pistons in 2002, averaging at least 17.3 points per game in each of the next eight seasons.
He also made three All-Star appearances during that span and was one of the key scorers for a Pistons team that won a title in 2004. Hamilton closed his career with two years in Chicago, retiring in 2013. Throughout his 14-year career, Hamilton averaged 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.8 steals per game.
Gheorge Muresan (1971)
Muresan, the big man from Romania, is tied with Manute Bol for the tallest player in NBA history, at 7’7”. The Washington Bullets took a shot on him in the 1993 NBA Draft. Muresan took time to develop, but he took down Most Improved Player in his third season, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 1996. He suited up for the New Jersey Nets for two seasons before retiring in 2001.
Want to see every NBA player born on February 14? Here is the rest of the list in chronological order:
- Jerry Fleishman (February 14, 1922)
- Carl McNulty (February 14, 1930)
- Wali Jones (February 14, 1942)
- Fred Carter (February 14, 1945)
- William Smith (February 14, 1949)
- Reggie King (February 14, 1957)
- Tyus Edney (February 14, 1973)
- Darius Songalia (February 14, 1978)
- Anthony Roberson (February 14, 1983)
- Byron Mullens (February 14, 1989)
- Chris Babb (February 14, 1990)
- Rodney Purvis (February 14, 1994)
- Eugene Omoruyi (February 14, 1997)
- Braxton Key (February 14, 1997)
