A dedication to basketball history, catalogued and ranked for posterity, then presented in convenient list form

On this date in basketball history: July 28

The U.S. defeats the Soviets in the Olympics for the first time; the NBAPA sues the league over the salary cap; the inaugural 3×3 basketball Olympic medals are awarded

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1952

The United States and Soviet Union face off for the first time in Olympics play, with the U.S. prevailing 86-58 in a quarterfinal round game in Helsinki. Bob Kurland leads the Americans with 15 points while Kansas’ Clyde Lovellette adds 14. The U.S.S.R., which was making its Olympic debut, rallied to defeat Brazil and Cuba in its final two games to qualify for the semifinals.


1943

Bill Bradley is born in Crystal City, Missouri. His mother, Susie, had played high school basketball.

1951

Doug Collins is born in Christopher, Illinois. His childhood neighbors included future film star John Malkovich.

1977

Manu Ginobili is born in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. His father Jorge was a basketball coach at the time for a local club.

1981

Willie Green is born in Detroit, Michigan. He starred at Cooley High School and then at the University of Detroit Mercy.

1982

The NBA Players Association (as represented by president Bob Lanier) files an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA in an effort to block the league and owners from implementing a salary cap outside of the collective bargaining process. The suit is eventually dismissed when the players and owners agree on a new collective bargaining agreement that includes the implementation of a salary cap, as well as a guaranteed revenue amount for players.

1986

Essence Carson is born in Paterson, New Jersey. In addition to being a McDonald’s All-American in basketball, she was New Jersey all-state in basketball and track and field for Eastside High School.

1996

The United States men’s team closes out group stage play at the Olympics in Atlanta with a 102-71 victory over Croatia. Mitch Richmond leads the Americans with 16 points, while Charles Barkley adds 14 points and 12 rebounds. Despite the loss, the Croatians advance to the quarterfinals round alongside the U.S.

2001

Tournament MVP Yao Ming leads China to the FIBA Asia Cup title with a 97-63 victory over Lebanon in the final in Shanghai. Also featuring Mengke Bateer and Wang Zhizhi, the Chinese dominated the competition on their home court, winning six of their seven games by 25 points or more. Lebanon, who was coached by former ABA and NBA star Johnny Neumann, won their first ever Asia Cup medal, while South Korea earned bronze with a 95-94 victory over Syria.

2010

Just one year removed from playing his last NBA game with the Cavaliers, Lorenzen Wright is found dead from gun shot wounds in a wooded area near his home in Tennessee. His ex-wife was later arrested and convicted of facilitating Wright’s murder.

2018

Maya Moore is named MVP for an unprecedented third consecutive year at the WNBA All-Star Game in Minneapolis. For the first time, the players are placed in a pool and drafted onto teams by captains, rather than being divided along conference lines. Team Candace Parker defeats Team Elena Delle Donne 119-112. Sue Bird makes a record setting 11th appearance, while A’ja Wilson and Jewell Lloyd make their All-Star debuts.

2021

Medals are handed out in 3×3 basketball for the first time in Olympics history. On the men’s side, Latvia defeats Russia for the gold while Serbia earns bronze with a win over Belgium. For the women, the United States are victorious in the gold medal game over Russia, while China defeats France for bronze. The U.S. women’s team features four WNBA players in Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young.

Following a loss in their opening group stage match against France, the United States men’s team bounces back in Tokyo with a 120-66 victory over Iran. Damian Lillard leads the U.S. with 21 points.

2024

The United States men’s team opens up play at the Paris Olympics with a 110-84 victory over Serbia. Kevin Durant leads all scorers with 23 points, while LeBron James adds 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Nikola Jokic finishes with 20 points and eight assists for Serbia. In other men’s tournament action, South Sudan makes its Olympic debut with a 93-79 upset victory over Puerto Rico.

The women’s tournament gets underway at the Olympics in Paris with group stage play. The highlight of the first day of competition is Spain defeating China 90-89 in an overtime thriller.