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1956

John Long is born in Romulus, Michigan. A star at Romulus High School in the Detroit suburbs, then at University of Detroit under Dick Vitale, Long also won an NBA title with the Pistons and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

1972

Ed Ratleff leads the way with 18 points as the United States defeats Australia 81-55 in group stage play of the Olympics in Munich.

1979

WNBA Finals MVP Ruth Riley is born in Ransom, Kansas.

1982

The Soviet Union defeats the United States 95-94 in a thrilling final round of the FIBA World Championship in Colombia. Doc Rivers, who was named tournament MVP, had a chance to win the game for the U.S. at the buzzer but was just short on a jumper. The Soviets became the first team to win three FIBA World Championship titles, and earned their sixth overall medal. It was a fifth FIBA World Championship medal for the United States, while Yugoslavia defeated Spain in the bronze medal game for their sixth consecutive medal.

1986

Jeff Green is born in Cheverly, Maryland. He led Northwestern High School to the Maryland state title in 2004.

WNBA All-Star Shavonte Zellous is born in Orlando, Florida.

1989

Maurice Cheeks is traded from the 76ers to the Spurs, along with David Wingate and Chris Welp, in exchange for Johnny Dawkins and Jay Vincent. Cheeks leaves the 76ers as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals, records he still holds.

1992

Bismack Biyombo is born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire). He has never represented his home country’s national team but did start his pro career with the Congolese club Lupopo.

1994

Kahleah Copper is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2021, she became just the second Philly-born player to make a WNBA All-Star roster, following in the footsteps of Dawn Staley.

1997

The first ever WNBA playoffs get underway, with the league’s top four regular season finishers matching up in a one-game semifinal round. Cynthia Cooper scores 31 points to lead the Houston Comets to a 70-54 victory over the Charlotte Sting, while the New York Liberty defeat the Phoenix Mercury 59-41 behind 16 points from Rebecca Lobo.

2004

Argentina defeats Italy 84-69 in the men’s gold medal game at the Olympics in Athens, becoming the only non-U.S. team to win a gold medal in the NBA player era (going back to 1992). Luis Scola leads the Argentinians with 25 points and 11 rebounds. In the bronze medal game, the United States salvages an otherwise disappointing showing with a 105-96 victory over Lithuania, avenging a loss from the group stage round.

The United States women’s team earns its third consecutive Olympics gold medal with a 74-63 victory over Australia in Athens. Tina Thompson leads the U.S. with 18 points, while reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson finishes with 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Aussies but struggles from the field, shooting just 4-of-16. The game marks the final Olympics appearances for Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley, who each earn their third gold medal. In the bronze medal game, Russia defeats Brazil 71-62. Brazil’s Janeth Arcain scores 15 points in the losing effort, her final Olympics game. She retires as the all-time leading women’s Olympics scorer with 535 career points, a mark that’s still second all-time behind Lauren Jackson (as of 2024).

2010

The 16th FIBA World Championship gets underway in Turkey. The United States roster features Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Love, and they open the tournament with a 106-78 victory over Croatia in Istanbul. Serbia, formerly Yugoslavia, competes for the first time and starts off with a 94-44 victory over Angola. Other action on the first day includes the host Turkish team defeating the Ivory Coast 86-47, while the defending champions Spain are upset by France, 72-66.

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