1962

The short-lived American Basketball League (ABL) permanently suspends operations in the middle of its second season due to financial insolvency. Commissioner Abe Saperstein declares the then first place Kansas City Steers as official champions for the ’62-’63 season. Though it was short lived, the ABL was notable for adopting the three-point line and featuring the first Black professional basketball coach, John McClendon.

1962

NBA player and coach Tyrone Corbin is born in Columbia, South Carolina.

1970

Bryon Russell is born in San Bernandino, California. He shares a birthday (three years apart) with his longtime Jazz teammate, Shandon Anderson.

1971

Brent Barry is born in Hempstead, New York while his father, Rick, is playing for the New York Nets of the ABA.

1973

Shandon Anderson is born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Willie, also played in the NBA and was part of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team.

1981

Francisco Garcia is born in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. In 2005, he became just the second Dominican player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, following Felipe Lopez in 1999.

2004

Michael Cooper makes his NBA head coaching debut, taking over on an interim basis for the Nuggets after Jeff Bzdelik is fired. The Nuggets defeat the 76ers 97-92 in Cooper’s first game in charge, but go on to lose 10 of their next 13 games before Cooper is replaced by George Karl. Cooper has not coached in the NBA since, instead taking a subsequent job in the D-League and then returning to the WNBA.

2012

Nikola Vucevic sets the Magic single game franchise record with 29 rebounds in a 112-110 overtime loss to the Heat. It breaks the previous record of 28, which had been held by Shaquille O’Neal for 29 years.