1963
A 21-year-old Marv Albert makes his radio debut, announcing a Knicks-Celtics broadcast on WCBS when the normal play-by-play man, Marty Glickman, is stranded at an airport due to inclement weather. Albert would eventually take over as the radio and television voice of the Knicks in 1967, holding the position for 37 years.
1948
Providence Steam Rollers coach Nat Hickey activates himself as a player for a game against the St. Louis Bombers, setting the still standing record as the oldest player in NBA history, at 45 years and 363 days.
1966
Chicago is granted an NBA expansion franchise, later named the Bulls. The third time is the charm for the Windy City, as the Bulls succeed where the Stags (folded in 1950) and Zephyrs (re-located in 1963) had previously failed.
1970
Al Attles is promoted to head coach (as player-coach) of the Warriors, replacing the fired George Lee. Attles becomes just the second Black coach in NBA history (after Bill Russell) and would eventually helm the team for 13 seasons and lead them to an NBA title in 1975.
1976
Todd MacCulloch is born in Winnipeg, Canada. He became obsessed with pinball in his youth and after retiring from basketball, competed in several high profile pinball competitions.
1978
Tammy Sutton-Brown is born in Markham, Canada. She played with the Canadian national team at the 2000 Olympics.
1982
Geoff Huston sets the Cavaliers single game franchise record with 27 assists in a 110-106 victory over the Warriors. The mark had previously been held for nine years by Lenny Wilkens.
1987
Kristi Toliver is born in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Her father George was a star player at James Madison in the ’70s then then a longtime NBA referee.
1990
Karl Malone scores a career high 61 points, along with 18 rebounds, in a 144-96 Jazz victory over the Bucks. It’s the second highest single game point total in Jazz franchise history, and the highest since the team’s 1979 re-location to Utah.
1995
NBA Today host Malika Andrews is born in Oakland, California.
2001
Two players, two coaches, and six broadcasters of the Oklahoma State University men’s basketball team are amongst the 10 killed when their plane crashes in Colorado during a snowstorm.