1988

Tom Chambers becomes the first ever unrestricted free agent signing in NBA history , when he agrees to a contract with the Suns. The 1988 offseason marked the beginning of the newest collective bargaining agreement, in which players with at least seven years experience were allowed to sign as unrestricted free agents. Other notable signings that summer include Kurt Rambis to the Hornets, Orlando Woolridge to the Lakers, and Moses Malone to the Hawks.

1940

Eddie Miles is born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He led the segregated, all-Black Scipio Jones High School to four consecutive Arkansas state titles.

1982

Beno Udrih is born in Celje, Slovenia (then Yugoslavia). His pro career began at age 15 in the Slovenian Second Basketball League.

1985

Senda Berenson Abbott, Bertha Teague, and Margaret Wade are inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, becoming the first three women enshrined. Abbott was an early advocate for the sport, Teague was a long-time high school coach, and Wade was a legendary player and coach.

1986

The 10th FIBA World Championship tournament gets underway in Spain with an expansion from 13 teams to 24. There’s also a format revamp, with no automatic byes for the host country or defending champions, as all 24 teams participated in an opening round, followed by a second round with 12 teams and a final knockout round for the top four. On the opening day of competition, the United States defeats the Ivory Coast 99-63, the Soviet Union defeats Angola 89-51, and Yugoslavia defeats New Zealand 118-81.

1992

The U.S. “Dream Team” officially qualifies for the 1992 Olympics with a 127-80 victory over Venezuela in the championship game of the Tournament of the Americas, an Olympic qualifying event in Portland.