1970

In one of the signature moments in NBA Finals history, Willis Reed emerges from the Madison Square Garden tunnel and takes the floor on a torn thigh for game seven, inspiring the Knicks to a 113-99 victory to clinch the series over the Lakers and their first title in franchise history. Though he finishes the game with just four points and three rebounds, Reed is named Finals MVP. It serves as the eighth and final NBA Finals appearance and loss for Elgin Baylor.

1951

Mike D’Antoni is born in Mullens, West Virginia. His father Lewis is considered one of the greatest prep school coaches in West Virginia basketball history.

1961

The Soviet Union defeats Yugoslavia 60-53 in the EuroBasket Final in Belgrade. Led by tournament MVP Radivoj Korac, the host Yugoslavians finish in second place, winning their first ever medal in EuroBasket competition. Bulgaria defeats France in the third place game.

Carl Braun is waived by the Knicks, leaving the franchise as its all-time leading scorer.

1980

Keyon Dooling is born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was named an All-American while starring at Dillard High School.

1990

Kemba Walker is born in The Bronx, New York. While starring on the basketball team at Rice High School in Manhattan, he was also part of a hip-hop dance troupe that appeared on Showtime at the Apollo.

1993

The #2 seed Rockets narrowly avoid a first round upset by defeating the Clippers 84-80 in a winner-take-all game five. Hakeem Olajuwon dominates with 31 points and 21 rebounds. It ends the Clippers’ brief run of success under coach Larry Brown, who resigns in the ensuing offseason.

2005

Led by Lithuanian Sarunas Jasikevicius and American Anthony Parker, Maccabi Tel Aviv wins its second consecutive EuroLeague championship by defeating Tau Ceramica 90-78 in the Final.

Steve Nash of the Suns is officially announced as NBA league MVP for the ’04-’05 season. He makes history as only the second non-American player to earn the award (after Hakeem Olajuwon). Shaquille O’Neal finishes a close second in voting, while LeBron James is sixth in just his second season in the league.

2011

The Mavericks finish off a sweep of the defending champion Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals with a 122-86 victory in game four.