1954

An NBA game is played in Florida for the first time, as the Fort Wayne Pistons and Baltimore Bullets face off in a neutral site game in Coral Gables at the behest of Pistons owner Fred Zollner, who had begun wintering in the area. Zollner had founded the franchise in 1937 as a semi-pro representation of his Zollner Corporation, a Fort Wayne-based foundry that manufactured pistons.

1952

NBA All-Star Michael “Campy” Russell is born in Jackson, Tennessee.

1960

Dominique Wilkins is born in Paris, France, where his father was stationed at a U.S. Army base. His family later settled in Washington, North Carolina, where he led Washington High School to back-to-back state titles in 1978 and 1979.

1971

Scott Burrell is born in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition to being an All-American while playing basketball at Hamden High School, Burrell was also a star on the baseball team and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round in 1989.

Lenny Wilkens, at age 33, becomes the oldest MVP in NBA All-Star Game history, finishing with 21 points to lead the Western Conference to a 108-107 victory over the Eastern Conference in San Diego. Michael Jordan would eventually surpass him as oldest All-Star MVP in 1998.

1979

Truck Robinson is traded from the Jazz to the Suns in exchange for Marty Byrnes, Ron Lee, and two first round picks.

1992

Troy State defeats DeVry University 258-141 in the highest scoring game in NCAA men’s basketball history.

1995

WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Allisha Gray is born in Greenwood, South Carolina.

2000

Bobby Phills passes away at age 30 after crashing his car at over 100 mph while racing his Hornets teammate, David Wesley.

2012

Dwight Howard sets the NBA record with 39 free throw attempts in a 117-109 Magic victory over the Warriors. Howard makes 21 of his attempts (53.8%) and finishes with 45 points and 23 rebounds. It shatters the record of 34, which had been held by Wilt Chamberlain since 1962.