1960
Oscar Robertson and Jerry West each make their NBA debuts against each other, as Robertson’s Royals defeat West’s Lakers 140-123. Robertson finishes with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, his first of an eventual record 181 career triple-doubles, while West scores 20 points. Elgin Baylor is the leading scorer for the Lakers, with 35 points.
1944
Three-time ABA All-Star Bill Melchionni is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1953
NBA All-Star and Trail Blazers champion Lionel Hollins is born in Arkansas City, Kansas.
1954
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He starred for John Bartram High School, La Salle University, and the 76ers in his hometown before his pro career eventually took him to Europe for nearly a decade.
1955
Lonnie Shelton is born in Bakersfield, California. In addition to starring on the basketball squad at Foothill
High School in Bakersfield, he was also an All-American in football and track and field.
1956
NCAA Coach of the Year winner Bruce Weber is born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1961
The Chicago Packers begin play as the NBA’s first expansion franchise with a loss to the Knicks. They eventually lost 13 of their first 15 games and finished the season 18-62.
1965
Five-time NBA All-Star Brad Daugherty is born in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
1968
19-year-old Spencer Haywood continues his dominance at the Olympics in Mexico City, shooting 11-of-14 for 26 points as the United States defeats Italy 100-61 to improve to 6-0 in group stage play.
1969
Spencer Haywood makes his pro basketball debut, scoring 30 points in a Denver Rockets loss to the New Orleans Buccaneers. Despite being just 20 years old, Haywood eventually finishes the season as the ABA scoring leader, rebounding leader, Rookie of the Year, and MVP.
1979
Walt Frazier is waived by the Cavaliers three games into the ’79-’80 season, ending his Hall of Fame career after 10 seasons with the Knicks and less than three with the Cavs.
Lenny Wilkens has his jersey #19 retired by the SuperSonics. Wilkens had played for Seattle for four seasons, making three All-Star teams and winning an assist title, and just a few months prior to the ceremony, had led the Sonics to their first championship as head coach.
2022
By taking the court for the Nuggets in a 123-102 loss to the Jazz, Ish Smith becomes the first player in NBA history to suit up for 13 different franchises.
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Basketball, Listed 