2020

The basketball world is stunned by the death of Kobe Bryant at age 41 in a helicopter crash which also claims the life of his daughter, Gianni. A subsequent Lakers-Clippers game is postponed out of respect to the players and coaches, and the NBA soon after announces that the All-Star MVP trophy is being named after Bryant in honor of his career.

1952

NBA champion Tom Henderson is born in Newberry, South Carolina.

1977

Vince Carter is born in Daytona Beach, Florida. In addition to leading the Mainland High School basketball team to the 1995 state title, he also played on the football and volleyball teams, and was an accomplished saxophone player with the school band.

1986

NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner Gerald Green is born in Houston, Texas.

1990

Michael Jordan passes Bob Love as the all-time leading scorer in Bulls franchise history, scoring his 12,624th point during a Bulls loss to the 76ers. The Bulls honor Jordan the next night in a pregame ceremony in Chicago, with Love on hand to present him with a commemorative basketball. It took Jordan just 386 games to break a record that Love had set over 592. By the end of his career, Jordan had extended the record to 29,277, almost more than double the next closest player, which is now Scottie Pippen.

1994

Montrezl Harrell is born in Tarboro, North Carolina. He was high school friends and rivals with future NFL All-Pro running back Todd Gurley, who attended a different school in Tarboro.

2000

Darius Garland is born in Gary, Indiana where his father, former NBA player Winston, was a high school coach at the time.

2024

Luka Doncic ties Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson for the fourth highest scoring game in NBA history, with a Mavericks franchise single game record 73 points in a 148-143 victory over the Hawks.