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1943

Billy Cunningham is born in Brooklyn, New York. He led Erasmus Hall High School to the 1961 New York City championship.

1967

Cliff Hagan comes out of retirement to sign a contract as player-coach of the Dallas Chaparrals of the nascent ABA, eventually becoming one of the league’s first stars.

1984

Magic Johnson sets the still standing record for assists in an NBA Finals game, with 21 in the Lakers’ 137-104 game three victory over the Celtics.

1985

Larry Bird is named NBA league MVP for the ’84-’85 season, becoming the first non-center in league history to earn the award in back-to-back seasons. Magic Johnson finishes a distant second place in voting, while Michael Jordan receives votes for the first time, finishing in sixth. The honor was bittersweet for Bird, who had struggled the night before the ceremony in game three of the NBA Finals, a 136-111 loss to the Lakers.

1986

Al Horford is born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Three years later his father, Tito, became the first Dominican to play in the NBA.

1988

Vinnie Johnson leads the way with 24 points off the bench as the Pistons defeat the Celtics 95-90 in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, clinching their first NBA Finals appearance since re-locating to Detroit in 1957.

1990

Game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals is a nightmare for Scottie Pippen, who struggles with a migraine and finishes with two points on 1-of-10 shooting, as the Pistons defeat the Bulls 93-74 to clinch their second straight NBA Finals appearance.

1993

Otto Porter, Jr. is born in St. Louis, Missouri. Both his mother and father had previously led Scott County Central High School to state basketball titles and Porter, Jr. did the same in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

1999

Karl Malone is named NBA league MVP for the second time and again it’s a controversial decision. Alonzo Mourning finishes second in voting. At age 35, Malone is the oldest MVP in league history.

2001

The 76ers clinch their first NBA Finals appearance in 18 years with a 108-91 victory over the Bucks in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. Allen Iverson leads Philly with 44 points while Dikembe Mutombo finishes with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and seven blocks.

2006

For the first time in franchise history, the Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals, finishing off the Suns in the Western Conference Finals with a 102-93 victory in game six. Dirk Nowitzki leads Dallas with 24 points and Josh Howard adds 20 points and 15 rebounds.

2013

LeBron James shoots 15-of-16 from the free throw line and finishes with 32 points as the Heat defeat the Pacers 99-76 in the winner-take-all game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals to clinch their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

2018

Stephen Curry makes nine three-point field goals, setting the NBA Finals single game record, and finishes with 33 points to lead the Warriors to a 122-103 win over the Cavaliers in game two.

2021

Devin Booker finishes with 47 points and 11 rebounds as the Suns eliminate the defending champion Lakers in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, with a 113-100 victory in game six.

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