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1944

ABA All-Star Thomas “Trooper” Washington is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1948

The Baltimore Bullets defeat the Philadelphia Warriors 88-73 in game six of the BAA Finals, closing out one of the most shocking upsets in NBA playoffs history. The Bullets eventually become the first and only franchise to win a BAA or NBA title and then later fold.

1951

A wild NBA Finals series ends in game seven, with the Rochester Royals defeating the Knicks 79-75. The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the series only to have the Knicks win three straight to force game seven. It was the first and still only NBA Finals appearance and NBA title for the Royals (who are now the Sacramento Kings), the first ever appearance for the Knicks, and the first and only time that two teams from the same state have played each other in the Finals.

1953

Dave Meyers is born in San Diego, California. His father Bob played basketball at Marquette and his younger sister Ann went on to become one of the greatest players in women’s basketball history.

1956

Mark Olberding is born in Melrose, Minnesota. He led Melrose High School to the Minnesota state title in 1974.

1970

Oscar Robertson is traded from the Royals to the Bucks in exchange for Charlie Paulk and Flynn Robinson, ending a successful but tumultuous decade for Robertson in Cincinnati.

1971

One of the great Naismith Hall of Fame classes is inducted, with NBA legends Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit getting enshrined in Springfield along with Harlem Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein.

1972

Just a few days after retiring as a player, Larry Brown gets his first coaching job, taking over as head coach of the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. In his first season in charge, Brown was named ABA Coach of the Year.

1983

The first ever NBA playoff series between the Knicks and Nets ends in a two-game sweep, as the Knicks win game two of the first round series 105-99. The series also notably featured brothers Albert (with the Nets) and Bernard (with the Knicks) King facing off.

1986

Rodney Stuckey is born in Seattle, Washington. He led Kentwood High School to the Washington state title in 2004.

1989

Fat Lever sets the Nuggets single game franchise record with 23 assists in a 139-121 victory over the Warriors.

1996

Hakeem Olajuwon sets the all-time career blocks record, which had been held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for nearly two decades, by rejecting three shots in a 118-110 Rockets win over the Suns.

1998

Jarrett Allen is born in San Diego, California. His father Leonard was a star player at San Diego State and was drafted by the Mavericks in 1985 but never played in the NBA.

2022

Jay Wright announces his retirement from coaching college basketball, after 21 seasons at Villanova that included two NCAA Tournament titles.

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