2001
The four-time defending WNBA champion Houston Comets are eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by the Los Angeles Sparks, who finish a sweep with 70-58 game two victory. Reigning league MVP Lisa Leslie leads the Sparks with 28 points and 18 rebounds. The Sparks would go on to win their first WNBA title.
1933
Sihugo “Si” Green is born in New York, New York. He played on the basketball team at Boys High School in Brooklyn under the legendary coach Mickey Fisher.
1954
Quinn Buckner is born in Phoenix, Illinois. He led Thornridge High School to back-to-back Illinois state titles in 1971 and 1972.
1979
A jury rules that the Lakers franchise owes $3.3 million to Rudy Tomjanovich in actual and punitive damages for their negligent role in the Kermit Washington punch during a 1977 game that fractured Tomjanovich’s skull.
1982
In their opening match of the second round at the FIBA World Championship in Colombia, the United States defeats Yugoslavia 88-81. It breaks a streak of 14 straight FIBA World Championship game wins for the defending champion Yugoslavians.
1988
Jerryd Bayless is born in Phoenix, Arizona. He averaged 28.8 points per game in his career with St. Mary’s High School, setting an Arizona state record.
1991
Cory Joseph is born in Toronto, Canada. Both of his parents played college basketball and later coached at various levels.
2008
In the quarterfinals of the men’s tournament at the Beijing Olympics, Kobe Bryant drops 25 points to lead the United States to a 116-85 victory over Australia. In the other quarterfinals, Lithuania defeats the host Chinese team 94-68, Spain knocks out Croatia 72-59, and Argentina wins an 80-78 thriller over Greece.
2009
The NCAA rules that Memphis University must vacate its ’07-’08 season, when the team won a program record 38 games and reached the NCAA Tournament National Final. The punishment is due to several infractions, most notably a fraudulent SAT score for then incoming star freshman Derrick Rose.
2017
Australia defeats Iran 79-56 in the FIBA Asia Cup final in Zouk Mikael, Lebanon. It was Australia’s first time competing in a major FIBA Asia tournament, having previously played under the FIBA Oceania banner. Despite the losing effort, Iran’s Hamed Haddadi becomes the first player to earn Asia Cup tournament MVP four times. South Korea wins the bronze medal game over New Zealand 80-71.
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