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1932

Richie Guerin is born in The Bronx, New York. He was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 and was part of the inaugural class of the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

1968

Connecticut basketball legend Tate George is born in Newark, New Jersey.

1975

David Thompson of N.C. State is the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, selected by the Hawks. But just a few days later, Thompson is also the #1 pick of the Nuggets in the ABA Draft and opts to start his career there. Eventual Rookie of the Year winner Alvan Adams (Oklahoma) is selected #4 overall by the Suns.

1976

Raef LaFrentz is born in Hampton, Iowa. His father Ron was a teacher and assistant basketball coach on Raef’s team at MarMac High School.

Following just his second losing season in his 10 years in charge, Jack Ramsay is fired as head coach of the Trail Blazers. He is replaced by Mike Schuler and soon after takes the coaching job with the Pacers, holding the position for just over two years before retiring.

1980

Larry Bird is named NBA Rookie of the Year for the ’79-’80 season. Magic Johnson finishes a distant second place in voting.

1984

Carmelo Anthony is born in Brooklyn, New York. After his father died, the family relocated to Baltimore, where Anthony was a star player for Towson Catholic High School.

1992

The Bulls advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, clinching the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Cavaliers 99-94 in game six. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen lead Chicago with 29 points each.

1995

A Rik Smits buzzer beater lifts the Pacers to a 94-93 win over the Magic in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals, an all-time classic that featured four lead changes in the final 13 seconds. Smits finishes the game with 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Indiana ties the series 2-2 but Orlando ultimately prevailed in seven games.

1998

NCAA All-American Markelle Fultz is born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Austin Reaves is born in Newark, Arkansas. He led Cedar Ridge High School to three Arkansas state titles and once scored 73 points in a game.

2003

The Spurs defeat the short-handed Mavericks 90-78 in game six of the Western Conference Finals, clinching the series 4-2. Dirk Nowitzki missed the last three games of the series with a sprained knee.

2008

Kobe Bryant drops 39 points as the Lakers defeat the Spurs 100-92 in game five of the Western Conference Finals, sending them to the NBA Finals for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal’s 2004 departure.

2009

The Lakers clinch their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance with a 119-92 victory over the Nuggets in game six of the Western Conference Finals. Kobe Bryant finishes with 35 points and 10 assists and Pau Gasol adds 20 points and 12 rebounds.

2010

Kobe Bryant’s 37 points leads the Lakers past the Suns 111-103 in game six of the Western Conference Finals, clinching their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

2022

Boston clinches its first NBA Finals appearance in 12 years with a 100-96 victory over the Heat in a winner-take-all game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.

2023

Jimmy Butler leads the way with 28 points as the Heat defeat the Celtics 103-84 in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, becoming the first play-in tournament team and the first #8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.

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