Charles Oakley is among the notable NBA players born on December 18.
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 December 18.
Bobby Jones (1951)
Jones started his basketball career in the ABA in 1974. He joined the Denver Nuggets of the NBA in 1976 and made two All-Star appearances in his two years with the Nuggets. Jones played his final eight seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, making two more All-Star appearances and winning Sixth Man of the Year in 1982. He also won a championship in 1983 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Jones earned the nickname “Secretary of Defense,” making 11 All-Defensive Teams throughout his 12-year career.
Charles Oakley (1963)
Oakley was one of the NBA’s fiercest competitors during his era, playing 19 seasons in the NBA. After a draft-day trade, he spent his first three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. He became a fan favorite when he joined the New York Knicks in 1988, making his sole All-Star appearance in 1993. He spent 10 seasons with the Knicks, averaging 10.4 points, 10 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Want to see every NBA player born on December 18? Here is the rest of the list in chronological order:
Gene Shue (December 18, 1931)
Jim Davis (December 18, 1941)
Craig Spitzer (December 18, 1945)
Phil Wagner (December 18, 1945)
Rich Johnson (December 18, 1946)
George Johnson (December 18, 1948)
Joe Pace (December 18, 1953)
Jacky Dorsey (December 18, 1954)
Audie Norris (December 18, 1960)
Nate Johnston (December 18, 1966)
Lucious Harris (December 18, 1970)
Oscar Torres (December 18, 1976)
Marcus Cousin (December 18, 1986)
Julian Washburn (December 18, 1990)
Jabari Brown (December 18, 1992)
Robert Franks (December 18, 1996)
E.J. Liddell (December 18, 2000)
Jalen Johnson (December 18, 2001)
