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1958

Alton Lister is born in Dallas, Texas.

Jack Molinas files an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA for banning him from the league in 1954 due to his betting on games. The suit is eventually dismissed due to a “morals” clause in Molinas’ contract that the judge deemed justifiable to the league suspending him.

1967

With an 83-80 victory over host South Korea, the Philippines wins the FIBA Asia Cup title in Seoul. South Korea takes home the silver medal while Japan earns bronze.

1978

The eighth FIBA World Championship, and first ever in Asia, gets underway in the Philippines. The first game features the U.S. team getting a scare, just barely beating Australia 77-75. Due to the tournament taking place in October, the American team featured mostly players from the Athletes in Action, an evangelical amateur league, as NCAA players were unavailable.

1987

The NBA Players Association (as represented by president Junior Bridgeman) files an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA amidst contentious collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The sides eventually agreed on terms in April of 1988, most notably including a reduction of the NBA Draft to two rounds, and increased unrestricted free agency.

1993

Dennis Rodman is traded from the Pistons to the Spurs, along with Isaiah Morris, a first round pick, and a second round pick, in exchange for Sean Elliott, David Wood, and a first round pick. Rodman lasts just two years in San Antonio while Elliott is in Detroit for only one, before returning to the Spurs via trade in 1994.

1997

The WNBA announces that expansion franchises have been awarded to Washington, D.C. and Detroit for the 1998 season. The Washington team was later named the Mystics and the Detroit team the Shock. With the two new teams, the WNBA expands from eight teams in its inaugural 1997 season to 10 in 1998.

1998

Daniel Gafford is born in El Dorado, Arkansas.

2000

Led by 13 points each from Vince Carter and Ray Allen, the United States men’s team defeats France 85-75 in the Olympics gold medal game in Sydney. Lithuania earns its second consecutive bronze medal with an 89-71 victory over Australia.

2003

Yao Ming leads the way with 30 points as China defeats South Korea 106-96 in the FIBA Asia Cup final in Harbin, China. It’s China’s record 13th title and Korea’s record 20th medal. Meanwhile, Qatar earns its first ever Asia Cup medal with a 77-67 victory over Lebanon for the bronze. Yao is named tournament MVP for the second straight time.

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