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1928

Bob Cousy is born in New York City, New York. The son of French immigrants, he didn’t speak any English until entering kindergarten.

1962

John Williams is born in Sorrento, Louisiana. He received his “Hot Rod” nickname as a child due to his making engine noises while playing.

1966

Vinny Del Negro is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is one of two NBA players, along with Travis Best, to be born in the city in which basketball was invented.

1974

Derek Fisher is born in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he later starred at the high school (for Parkview High School) and collegiate (for University of Arkansas-Little Rock) levels.

1975

Three-time WNBA champion Elaine Powell is born in Monroe, Louisiana.

1977

Chamique Holdsclaw is born in Brooklyn, New York. She led Christ the King Regional High School to four consecutive New York state championships.

Ime Udoka is born in Portland, Oregon to a Nigerian father and American mother. He played college ball at Portland State University.

1982

Joel Anthony is born in Montreal, Canada. He made an appearance with the Canadian national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

1984

Drazen Dalipagic scores 37 points to lead Yugoslavia to an 88-82 victory over Canada in the bronze medal game of the Los Angeles Olympics. Yugoslavia becomes the first country other than the United States or Soviet Union to medal in men’s basketball in three consecutive Olympics, adding to their gold medal in 1980 and silver medal in 1976.

1996

Bullets assistant coach Derek Smith passes away at age 34 after suffering a heart attack. Smith, who was also part of the 1980 Louisville NCAA title team and then played nine seasons in the NBA, was at sea onboard a cruise for Bullets season ticket holders when the tragedy happened.

2016

In a Olympics men’s group stage stunner, the host Brazilians defeat Pau Gasol and Spain 66-65 in Rio. The loss drops Spain to 0-2, as they had also previously dropped their opening game against Croatia, but the Spaniards did manage to win their next three to reach the quarterfinals.

2024

The United States women’s team cruises past Australia 85-64 in the Paris Olympic semifinals. Four different Americans score in double digits, led by Breanna Stewart’s 16 points. The other semifinal is an overtime thriller, with France defeating Belgium 81-75. The host French team led by six points with under a minute remaining but the Belgians made an unlikely comeback to first the extra period. Belgian star Emma Meesseman finishes with 19 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort. It sets the stage for the U.S. and France to face off for gold in both the men’s and women’s tournament, something that had happened just once previously (U.S. vs. Spain in 2016).

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