1999

The ’98-’99 NBA season finally begins, with 12 games on opening night. The games are mostly sloppy and disjointed, with players out of shape and rusty due to the six month lockout. Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, and Vince Carter are amongst the notable rookies who make their NBA debut, while the defending champion Bulls lose 104-96 to the Jazz to open their first season in 15 years without Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen on the roster.

1944

John Beasley is born in Texarkana, Texas.

1960

Bill Russell becomes the first NBA player to grab over 50 rebounds in a single game, with an NBA record setting 51 (along with 23 points) in a 124-100 Celtics victory over the Syracuse Nationals. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player to exceed 50 rebounds in a single game, doing so just nine months later with his record setting 55. Russell’s 51 still stands as the second highest total of all time, and the Celtics single game franchise record.

1978

At the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Doug Collins relinquishes his starting spot for the Eastern Conference to John Havlicek, who makes his 13th and final appearance. The Western Conference defeats the East 133-125 in what was also notably the eighth and final appearance for Rick Barry, and an All-Star debut for Moses Malone and Bill Walton.

1991

Terrence Ross is born in Portland, Oregon.

1994

Vinnie Johnson has his jersey #15 retired by the Pistons. The high scoring sixth man was a two-time champion with Detroit.