1999

Latrell Sprewell is traded from the Warriors to the Knicks in exchange for Terry Cummings, Chris Mills, and John Starks. At the time of the trade, Sprewell had not played in an NBA game for nearly 14 months, due to his indefinite suspension from the league for assaulting Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo. Sprewell made his Knicks debut a couple weeks later and helped lead the team to a surprise appearance in the 1999 NBA Finals.

1949

NBA champion Clifford Ray is born in Union, South Carolina.

1954

The NBA All-Star Game goes to overtime for the first time, with the East ultimately defeating the West 98-93 at Madison Square Garden. Bob Cousy explodes for 10 of his 20 points in the overtime period and is named All-Star MVP. George Mikan scores 18 points for the Western Conference in his fourth and final All-Star appearance.

1958

Bill Russell finishes with 11 points and 11 rebounds in his NBA All-Star Game debut in St. Louis, a 130-118 victory for the Eastern Conference. Bob Pettit of the West’s Hawks becomes the first player to be named MVP in a losing effort, as he finishes with a then record 28 points and a still-standing record of 26 rebounds.

1963

Hakeem Olajuwon is born in Lagos, Nigeria. He didn’t take up basketball until age 15, instead excelling in his youth as a soccer goalie.

Detlef Schrempf is born in Leverkusen, Germany. He is the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history amongst German born players, and second in rebounds.

1994

The Mavericks set the NBA record for most consecutive home losses, dropping their 19th in a row in Dallas, a 91-87 defeat against the SuperSonics.

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