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1964

Walter Berry is born in New York, New York. During his legendary days balling on the New York playgrounds, he earned the nickname “The Truth.”

1966

Jerome “Pooh” Richardson is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His nickname was granted in his youth by his grandmother, who thought he resembled Winnie the Pooh.

1973

Voshon Lenard is born in Detroit, Michigan. Together with teammates Jalen Rose and Howard Eisley, he helped lead Southwestern High School to the Michigan state title in 1990.

1975

The Western Conference Finals game seven is a battle of attrition, with the Warriors depth advantage over the Bulls playing a huge part in their 83-79 victory to advance to the NBA Finals. Rookie Jamaal Wilkes leads Golden State with 23 points and eight rebounds.

1978

NBA champion Eddie House is born in Berkeley, California.

1980

Despite rookie Magic Johnson committing an NBA Finals record 10 turnovers, the Lakers defeat the 76ers 108-103 in game five to take a 3-2 series lead. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finishes with 40 points and 15 rebounds but sprains his ankle, which causes him to miss game six.

1981

Larry Bird finishes with 26 points and 14 rebounds to clinch the first title of his NBA career (though Cedric Maxwell is named Finals MVP), as the Celtics defeat the Rockets 102-91 in game six of the NBA Finals.

1982

Alana Beard is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. She led Southwest High School to four consecutive Louisiana state titles between 1997 and 2000.

1987

The Seattle SuperSonics close out a Western Conference Semifinals upset over the Rockets in a game six double overtime thriller, 128-125. Tom Chambers leads the Sonics with 37 points while Hakeem Olajuwon sets the Rockets franchise playoff record with 49 points. Ralph Sampson missed the series due to a cartilage tear in his knee suffered during the regular season.

1991

Tim Hardaway sets the Warriors franchise playoff single game record with 20 assists, along with 27 points and five steals in game five of the Western Conference Semifinals. But the Lakers emerge victorious, 124-119 in overtime, to clinch the series, 4-1.

1992

Clyde Drexler drops 34 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a 118-106 victory over the Suns in the clinching game five of the Western Conference Semifinals.

1996

Following the Lakers getting eliminated by the Rockets in a Western Conference Quarterfinals series, Magic Johnson ends his brief comeback and retires for good.

1997

In game five of a contentious Eastern Conference Semifinals series, Miami’s P.J. Brown shoves New York’s Charlie Ward into the stands, setting off a bench-clearing altercation. For their role in leaving the bench, the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Larry Johnson, and Allan Houston all receive automatic one game suspensions.

1998

Chris Webber is traded from the Wizards to the Kings in exchange for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe.

2001

High school senior Kwame Brown declares his eligibility for the upcoming NBA Draft, retracting on the letter of intention he had signed with the University of Florida. He would subsequently become the first high school player to be drafted #1 overall.

2002

Zach Edey is born in Toronto, Canada. He represented the Canadian national team at the 2024 Olympics and at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he earned a bronze medal.

2023

Jayson Tatum sets the all-time record for points in an NBA playoff series game seven, with 51 as the Celtics defeat the 76ers 112-88 to clinch the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

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