2016

Dirk Nowitzki has his jersey #41 retired by the Mavericks. Over a 21-year career spent entirely with Dallas, he became the franchise’s first league MVP (in 2007), its first Finals MVP (in 2011), and set the franchise career records in points, rebounds, blocks, games played, win shares, and All-Star appearances (14).

1954

Alex English is born in Columbia, South Carolina. His jersey #22 was retired by Dreher High School in Columbia in 2020.

1963

In an incredible anomaly, Wilt Chamberlain scores 50+ points in a game on January 5th for the fourth year in a row. The streak started with a 52 point performance in 1960 in a Warriors win over the Lakers, followed by a 56 point performance in a 1961 win over the Syracuse Nationals, then a 53 point performance in a 1962 win over the St. Louis Hawks, and finally a 50 point performance in a 1963 win over the Chicago Zephyrs.

1985

The Philippines upsets China 82-72 to clinch the FIBA Asia Cup title in Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese end up settling for the bronze medal, as they had also lost earlier in the tournament to silver medalists South Korea, who broke a streak of 42 straight FIBA Asia Cup wins for China. Allan Caidac is named tournament MVP.

1988

Pete Maravich passes away at age 40 after suffering a heart attack (due to an undiagnosed congenital defect) while playing in a pick-up game. He had been inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame just one year prior.

1991

Kevin Bradshaw sets the single game NCAA Division I scoring record with 71 points for U.S. International in a 186-140 loss to Loyola Marymount.

1994

Jonquel Jones is born in Freeport, Bahamas. A legend in her home nation, she is the first Bahamian to be named a WNBA All-Star and the first to be named WNBA MVP.

1997

Nick Van Exel dishes out 23 assists for the Lakers in a 95-82 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies. It’s the highest single game total by any Lakers player aside from Magic Johnson, and Van Exel becomes just the third Lakers player in addition to Johnson and Jerry West to top 20+ assists in a single game.