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1896

In the first intercollegiate basketball game, the University of Chicago defeats the University of Iowa, 15-12.

1955

Bill Sharman is named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game in New York, a 100-91 victory for the Eastern Conference. Bob Pettit finishes with eight points and nine rebounds in his All-Star debut.

1958

Larry Smith is born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. A star at Simmons High School and then Alcorn State, he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

1964

A controversial interview with Bill Russell is published in the Saturday Evening Post magazine, in which the Celtics superstar claims he owes the fans and public “nothing” and accuses the NBA owners of maintaining an unspoken Black player quota.

1972

In front of his home crowd at The Forum in Los Angeles, Jerry West caps off one of the most exciting NBA All-Star Games ever played with a game-winning jumper in the final second to give the Western Conference a 112-110 victory over the East. West is named All-Star MVP for the first time. Bob Lanier and Dave Cowens make their debuts while Oscar Robertson scores 11 points in his 12th and final appearance.

1973

A mass murder takes place at a home in Washington, D.C. owned by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as part of escalating violence between the Hanafi movement (to which Abdul-Jabbar was an acolyte) and the Nation of Islam. Due to security concerns after the event, Abdul-Jabbar gets an exemption from the NBA to skip the All-Star Game a few days later.

1985

Mark Eaton sets the Jazz single game franchise record with 14 blocks in a 127-122 victory over the Trail Blazers.

1986

In their first ever game at the newly opened Dean Smith Center, #1 ranked North Carolina holds off a late rally from their heated rival, #3 ranked Duke, for a 95-92 victory. Duke would soon after embark on a 21-game winning streak, making it all the way to the National Final.

1990

Gorgui Dieng is born in Kebemer, Senegal. In 2015, he set up the Gorgui Deng Foundation, which provides medical supplies to hospitals in his native country.

1998

Robert Parish has his jersey #00 retired by the Celtics. The ceremony takes place on the same day that his former teammate Larry Bird makes his return to Boston, as coach of the Pacers. Parish was a nine-time All-Star for Boston and part of three title teams.

On this date: full archive

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