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1941

Two-time NBA All-Star Joe Caldwell is born in Texas City, Texas.

1950

NBA champion (1977 with the Trail Blazers) David “Corky” Calhoun is born in Waukegeean, Illinois.

The National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) begins play. It was formed by four former NBL franchises (Sheboygan Red Skins, Denver Nuggets, Waterloo Hawks, and Anderson Packers) who were merged into the NBA but then kicked out after just one season. The NPBL and its franchises fold just a few months later without completing a full season.

1951

An NBA game is played for the first time with the current 12-foot wide lane, a rule change made by the league ahead of the ’51-’52 season in an explicit effort to slow down the unstoppable George Mikan.

1952

In a Lakers win over the Celtics on the first day of the ’52-’53 season, George Mikan scores his 7,022nd career point, breaking Joe Fulks’ all-time NBA record. Mikan held it for almost five years before it was then broken by Dolph Schayes.

1961

Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Anne Donovan is born in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Derek Smith is born in Hogansville, Georgia. He led Hogansville High School to the Georgia state title in 1978.

1980

In an early season thriller and rematch from the prior season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Larry Bird finishes with 36 points and 21 rebounds but Julius Erving scores a career high 45 points to lead the 76ers to a 117-113 overtime victory over the Celtics.

1988

For recruiting violations committed during the ’86-’87 season, the Kansas University men’s program is levied with severe sanctions by the NCAA. This includes a ban from the 1989 NCAA Tournament, marking Kansas as the only defending champions to be barred from the next year’s tournament. The punishment also included brief limitations on scholarships and recruiting visits.

1991

The Warriors break up the Run-TMC trio, trading Mitch Richmond to the Kings in exchange for disgruntled draftee Billy Owens.

1994

Michael Jordan has his jersey #23 retired by the Bulls in a ceremony that also includes an unveiling of a statue in his likeness. When Jordan made his comeback a year later, he temporarily wore #45 but eventually reverted back to #23.

1996

Former collegiate rivals Allen Iverson and Ray Allen make their NBA debuts against each other. Iverson drops 30 points but Allen’s Bucks prevail over the 76ers, 111-103.

2004

Stephon Castle is born in New York, New York. His father Stacey was teammates with Tim Duncan at Wake Forest.

2007

Having signed as a free agent in the offseason, Grant Hill plays his first game for the Suns wearing his customary #33 jersey, which was previously retired for Alvan Adams but “un-retired” for Hill (with Adams’ permission).

2016

Ray Allen officially announces that he is retiring from the NBA after 18 seasons. He had not played in a game or signed with a team since the 2014 NBA Finals. His announcement follows prior retirement declarations in 2016 from Allen’s “Big Three” Celtics teammates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

On this date: full archive

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