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1938

Italy are champions of the first ever EuroBasket Women. Played in a round robin format with five teams in Rome, it’s considered the first major tournament in international women’s basketball history. Due to World War II and other factors, the second edition of the tournament would not take place until 1950.

1940

Dave DeBusschere is born in Detroit, Michigan. The three-time Pistons All-Star was also a legend in the Motor City at the high school and collegiate levels.

1941

NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Mel Counts is born in Coos Bay, Oregon.

1949

Auburn playing legend and longtime NBA broadcaster John Mengelt is born in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.

1962

Manute Bol is born in Gogrial, South Sudan (then Sudan). The birthdate is an estimate, as there is no formal record of his birth.

1963

Jerry Lucas finishes with 23 points and 17 rebounds in his NBA debut, a 112-93 Cincinnati Royals victory over the St. Louis Hawks. The Royals had selected Lucas with a territorial pick in the 1962 NBA Draft but he had opted to sign a contract with the Cleveland Pipers of the ABL, which folded before he could play a game.

1965

Byron “Tom” Tolbert is born in Long Beach, California.

Frank Ramsey has his jersey #23 retired by the Celtics. The ur sixth man had retired one year prior after winning seven championships with Boston in nine seasons.

1967

The Dallas Chaparrals host the Anaheim Amigos in an early season ABA game, becoming the first ever major pro basketball team from the state of Texas. After six seasons in Dallas, the Chaparrals re-locate to San Antonio and become the Spurs.

1968

In their first real test at the Mexico City Olympics, the United States men’s team defeats Yugoslavia 73-58 to improve to 4-0 in group stage play. Jo Jo White is the leading scorer with 24 points.

Wes Unseld grabs 22 rebounds in his NBA debut, a 124-116 Baltimore Bullets victory over the Pistons. Unseld would conclude the ’68-’69 season as just the second rookie in NBA history to be named league MVP.

1969

In his NBA debut at age 27, Connie Hawkins finishes with 16 points and 12 rebounds in a 116-114 Suns victory over the Rockets. Hawkins had previously been banned by the league for his supposed role in a point shaving scandal which was overturned after a successful lawsuit.

1970

In a battle of expansion teams playing their first NBA game, the Trail Blazers defeat the Cavaliers 115-112 in Portland. Jim Barnett leads the Blazers with 31 points, while John Warren scores 23 for the Cavaliers.

1980

Sue Bird is born in Syosset, New York.

1982

Alan Anderson is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1987

Bernard King signs as a free agent with the Bullets. He would briefly revive his career with Washington, coming back from a torn ACL to make one final All-Star appearance at age 34.

1999

Aaron Nesmith is born in Charleston, South Carolina.

2017

Rick Pitino is officially fired as head coach at the University of Louisville, as a federal bribery investigation was getting underway regarding the school’s recruiting practices between 2010 and 2014. Though Pitino claimed no knowledge of the wrong-doing, he was also later suspended for five games by the NCAA when the investigation completed.

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