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1936

Don Ohl is born in Murphysboro, Illinois. In addition to basketball, he also played baseball and golf at Edwardsville High School.

1966

Bill Russell officially takes over as player-coach of the Celtics, replacing Red Auerbach and becoming the first Black head coach in NBA history.

1967

Rick Barry scores 55 points and sets the NBA Finals single game record with 22 made field goals (on 48 attempts), leading the Warriors to a 130-124 win over the 76ers in game three of the NBA Finals. The 76ers would go on to win the series in six games.

1969

For the 12th and final time in Bill Russell’s career, he leads the Celtics to an Eastern Conference Finals victory, with a 106-105 win over the Knicks in game six. Willis Reed has 32 points and 11 rebounds for New York, who hangs tough despite Walt Frazier struggling with a groin injury. Sam Jones leads Boston with 29 points while Russell hauls in 21 rebounds.

1971

With Jerry West sidelined by a torn knee ligament and Elgin Baylor by an Achilles’ tear, the Lakers are no match in the Western Conference Finals for the Bucks, who win game five 116-98 to close out the series and clinch the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finishes out the series averaging 25.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game.

1975

Reigning league MVP Bob McAdoo goes off for 50 points and 21 rebounds, leading the Buffalo Braves to a 108-102 victory over the Bullets in game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The win evens the series at 2-2 but the Bullets would eventually prevail in seven games.

1989

Bojan Bogdanovic is born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzergovina (then Yugoslavia). His pro career started in his hometown with Zrinjski Mostar in the Liga BiH.

1991

Led by Final Four MVP Toni Kukoc, KK Split (then known as POP 84) wins its third straight EuroLeague title, defeating FC Barcelona 70-65 in the championship game.

1993

Dikembe Mutombo sets the Nuggets single game franchise record with 12 blocks in a 94-83 victory over the Clippers.

1999

Tom Chambers has his jersey #24 retired by the Suns.

2007

Lionel Hollins has his jersey #14 retired by the Trail Blazers. Hollins was an All-Star and key component of the ’76-’77 Portland title team.

2022

Marcus Smart is named Defensive Player of the Year for the ’21-’22 season, becoming the first guard to earn the award since Gary Payton in 1996 and only the second Celtics player ever to do so, after Kevin Garnett.

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