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1933

Two-time NBA All-Star Kenny Sears is born in Watsonville, California.

1969

Christian Laettner is born in Angola, New York. He led Nichols School in Buffalo to two New York state title.

1982

The United States is stunned by Spain 109-99 in a first round match at the FIBA World Championship. Despite the loss, the U.S. advances to the second round thanks to previous preliminary victories over China and Panama.

1984

NCAA All-American Dee Brown is born in Jackson, Mississippi.

1986

Rudy Gay is born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Rudy, Sr., was lead singer of the ’70s R&B group Ace Spectrum.

Tyrus Thomas is born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He returned to his hometown in 2024 to take a coaching staff job at Baton Rouge Community College.

1991

Puerto Rico defeats Mexico 77-65 in Havana to earn its first ever Pan American Games gold medal in men’s basketball. They had previously stunned the United States, who settle for bronze with a 93-74 victory over the host Cubans. The U.S. team featured Christian Laettner, Clarence Weatherspoon, and Grant Hill.

2004

Allen Iverson finishes with 17 points and Tim Duncan adds 14 as the United States men’s team defeats Greece 77-71 in the group stage of the Athens Olympics, improving their record to 1-1 following an opening day loss to Puerto Rico.

2007

Former Rockets and Timberwolves player Eddie Griffin passes away at age 25 as the result of a car crash.

2016

In the quarterfinals round of the Olympics men’s tournament in Rio, the United States crushes Argentina 105-78. Kevin Durant leads the U.S. with 27 points while Manu Ginobili finishes with 14 points and seven assists in his final appearance with the national team. In the other quarterfinals, Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 17 points leads Serbia to an 86-83 victory over Croatia, Patty Mills drops 24 points as Australia crushes Lithuania 90-64, and Spain easily defeats France 92-67. After the game, France’s Tony Parker announces his retirement from the national team.

2020

In his NBA playoffs debut, Luka Doncic commits 11 turnovers and the Mavericks lose 118-110 to the Clippers in game one of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. It ties Doncic with John Williamson for the second most turnovers ever in a playoffs game, trailing only James Harden’s 12 from a game in 2015. Doncic finishes the game with 42 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell scores a Jazz playoff franchise record 57 points, along with nine rebounds and seven assists, but it’s in a losing effort, as the Nuggets prevail 135-125 in game one of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Jamal Murray leads Denver with 36 points and nine assists.

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