A dedication to basketball history, catalogued and ranked for posterity, then presented in convenient list form

On this date in basketball history: January 2

Donovan Mitchell drops 71 for the Cavs; Red Auerbach announces he’s leaving the Capitols; Josh Giddey is the youngest player to record a triple-double

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2023

Donovan Mitchell sets the Cavaliers single game franchise record with 71 points in a 145-134 Cleveland win over the Bulls in overtime. It was also the highest single game point total by any player in almost 17 years, dating back to Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance in 2006. It’s also notable as the only recorded 70-point double-double in NBA history that included 10 or more assists.


1920

Bob Feerick is born in San Francisco, California. He starred at nearby Santa Clara University, both as a player and later as a coach.

1949

Mike Newlin is born in Portland, Oregon. He grew up playing baseball but switched to basketball when his family moved to California while he was in high school.

Upset by his contract, and by ownership’s unwillingness to rebuild the roster around Black players, Red Auerbach announces he is resigning as coach of the Washington Capitols at the end of the ’48-’49 season.

1981

Kirk Hinrich is born in Sioux City, Iowa. He led Sioux City West High School to the Iowa state title in 1999, with his father Jim as his head coach.

2000

The Heat play their first game in the newly opened American Airlines Arena (now called the Kaseya Center), defeating the Magic 111-100.

2001

Tony Delk scores 53 points in a 121-117 Suns loss in overtime to the Kings. It comes seemingly out of nowhere, as prior to this game, Delk’s NBA career high was 26 points and he never topped 30 in a game again in his 10 seasons in the league.

2014

Anderson Varejao ties Rick Roberson’s Cavaliers single game franchise record with 25 rebounds in an 87-81 overtime victory over the Magic.

2022

Josh Giddey becomes the youngest player in NBA history to log a triple-double, at 19 years and 84 days, finishing with 17 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds in a 95-86 Thunder loss to the Mavericks.