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

On this date in basketball history: August 1

Paul George suffers a broken leg; Charles Barkley dominates the Olympic semifinals in Barcelona; Patrick Ewing dominates the Olympic group stage in L.A.

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2014

During an intra-squad scrimmage of the preliminary roster for the U.S. men’s team ahead of the FIBA World Cup, Paul George lands awkwardly against the basket stanchion, suffering a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula. Following surgery, George remained sidelined for eight months before making a return for the Pacers late in the ’14-’15 NBA season.


1950

Roy Williams is born in Marion, North Carolina. He starred on the basketball team at T.C. Roberson High School, then played on the freshman team at University of North Carolina under his mentor, Dean Smith.

1958

Ernest “Kiki” Vandeweghe is born in Wiesbaden, Germany. His father Ernie, a former NBA player, was stationed overseas at the time as U.S. Air Force physician. The family returned to the U.S. during Kiki’s childhood.

1968

Stacey Augmon is born in Pasadena, California. He starred on the basketball team at John Muir High School, which was also the prep school of Jackie Robinson.

1980

Asjha Jones is born in Piscataway, New Jersey. She holds the career scoring and rebounding records at Piscataway Township High School.

1984

The United States men’s team improves to 3-0 in group stage play at the Los Angeles Olympics with a 104-68 victory over Uruguay. Patrick Ewing leads the Americans with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Michael Jordan scores 16.

1992

Austin Rivers is born in Santa Monica, California while his father, Doc, was playing for the Clippers.

1996

Charles Barkley dominates with 24 points and 11 rebounds as the United States men’s team defeats Australia 101-73 in the Olympic semifinals in Atlanta. In the other semifinal match-up, Yugoslavia defeats Lithuania 66-58, behind 19 points from Sasha Danilovic.

2001

Scottie Barnes is born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He played basketball at three different high schools in the state of Florida and was teammates at various points with future fellow NBA players Jett Howard, Cade Cunningham, Day’Ron Sharpe, Vernon Carey, and Taylor Hendricks.