2003
LeBron James makes his much hyped NBA debut, finishing with 25 points and nine assists in a 106-92 Cavaliers loss to the Kings. At 18 years and 303 days, James becomes the youngest player in NBA history to score 25+ points in a game, a record he still holds.
1932
Four-time NBA All-Star Dick Garmaker is born in Hibbing, Minnesota.
1958
Danny Vranes is born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1977, he led Skyline High School to the Utah state title and was named to the inaugural McDonald’s All-American team.
1961
Oscar Robertson sets the Kings (then Cincinnati Royals) single game franchise record with 22 assists in a 139-132 victory over the Syracuse Nationals. The record would later be equaled by Robertson himself in 1966, and then by Phil Ford in 1979.
1992
Evan Fournier is born in Paris, France. He is the third leading NBA scorer all-time amongst French born players, trailing Nic Batum and Rudy Gobert.
1993
Betnijah Laney is born in Clayton, Delaware. Both Betnijah and her mother, Yolanda, played under C. Vivian Stringer in college; the elder at Cheney State, and the younger at Rutgers.
1996
In honor of the league’s 50th anniversary, the NBA 50 Greatest Players list is announced.
2016
Dikembe Mutombo has his jersey #55 retired by the Nuggets. Mutombo spent his first five seasons with Denver, making three All-Star teams and winning Defensive Player of the Year in ’94-’95.
2018
Klay Thompson sets the NBA single game record with 14 three-point field goals in a 149-124 Warriors win over the Bulls. The record had previously been held by Thompson’s teammate, Stephen Curry.
2019
The NCAA announces that it will be altering its eligibility rules to allow athletes the ability to profit off their name, image, and likeness. The landmark decision, which is scheduled to take effect in 2021, comes as a result of pressure on the NCAA from California passing a law on athlete pay, and a recent class-action lawsuit from former and current athletes.