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1951

The Soviet Union defeats Czechoslovakia 45-44 in the EuroBasket Final in Paris. The host French team defeats Bulgaria in the bronze medal game.

1953

Kevin Grevey is born in Hamilton, Ohio. He was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

1955

NBA Coach of the Year winner George Karl is born in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.

1963

The fourth FIBA World Championship gets underway in Brazil. Philippines was tabbed as the original hosts but were stripped of their eligibility after refusing to grant visas to players from the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. In the first day of competition, the United States defeats Mexico 88-74, while the Soviet Union beats Canada and Yugoslavia is victorious over Peru. In a unique competition format, the host Brazilians are given a bye to the final round.

1973

The Pacers are back-to-back ABA champions with an 88-81 victory over the Kentucky Colonels in game seven of the ABA Finals. George McGinnis leads the way with 27 points and is named Playoffs MVP. It’s the third and final ABA title for the Pacers.

1974

The Celtics win their 12th title in franchise history, and first without Bill Russell, by defeating the Bucks 102-87 in game seven of the NBA Finals. John Havlicek is named Finals MVP. Oscar Robertson struggles in his final NBA game, shooting 2-of-13 from the field.

1978

For the third time in the ’70s, the Bullets pull off an Eastern Conference Finals upset to advance to the NBA Finals, adding the 76ers to their list of victims (following the Knicks in 1971 and the Celtics in 1975) with a 101-99 victory in game six.

1979

Magic Johnson announces that he is forgoing his final two years of eligibility at Michigan State in order to enter the NBA Draft. The NBA declares him draft eligible under the “hardship clause” and he soon after becomes the first underclassman ever drafted #1 overall.

1980

Keith Bogans is born in Alexandria, Virginia. He played at DeMatha High School in nearby Hyatsville, Maryland, under the legendary coach Morgan Wootten.

1987

Michael Cooper is named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the ’86-’87 season, becoming the first (and still only) Lakers player to earn the award.

1992

Clyde Drexler and Christian Laettner are announced as the final two members of the U.S. men’s basketball “Dream Team” for the upcoming 1992 Olympics.

1996

Behind 32 points and 15 rebounds from Shawn Kemp, the Seattle SuperSonics defeat the Rockets 114-107 in game four of the Western Conference Semifinals, completing a sweep and eliminating the two-time defending champions.

1997

Larry Bird is hired as head coach of the Pacers, taking over for the departed Larry Brown. Bird lasts three successful but stressful seasons before stepping down.

1998

Mo Bamba is born in Harlem, New York. He was childhood friends with rapper Sheck Wes, whose hit single “Mo Bamba” reached the Billboard charts in 2017.

2002

The original Hornets play their final home game in Charlotte before re-locating to New Orleans, an 89-79 loss to the Nets in game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The NBA would return to Charlotte just two years later with the expansion Bobcats.

The Spurs play their final home game at the Alamodome, an 87-85 loss to the Lakers in game four of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Spurs begin play at the new SBC Center in the ’02-’03 season.

2012

LeBron James of the Heat is named NBA league MVP for the ’11-’12 season. James becomes just the eighth player to earn the award three times and only the fourth (after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Moses Malone) to win it with two different franchises. Kevin Durant finished second in voting.

2016

A powerhouse battle in the Western Conference Semifinals ends in game six, with Kevin Durant scoring 37 points to lead the Thunder to a 113-99 victory over the Spurs. Tim Duncan finishes with 19 points in what would turn out to be his final game, as he announces his retirement in the subsequent offseason.

2019

Kawhi Leonard hits the only game seven buzzer beater in NBA playoffs history, a corner jumper over Joel Embiid that bounced off the rim four times before dropping in, lifting the Raptors over the 76ers 92-90 in the deciding game of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series.

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