1967
The American Basketball Association (ABA) is officially chartered by league president Gary Davidson, set to begin play in October 1967. Lakers legend George Mikan is named as the league’s first commissioner. 10 franchises are announced in Pittsburgh, Houston, Anaheim, Dallas, New York, Kansas City, Oakland, New Orleans, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis. The Kansas City franchise never materializes, instead getting replaced by a Denver-based team (the Rockets, now the Nuggets), while an 11th franchise is also later added in Louisville (the Kentucky Colonels).
1968
Sean Elliott is born in Tucson, Arizona.
Wilt Chamberlain puts up the first double-triple-double in NBA history, with 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists in a 76ers win over the Pistons. Only Russell Westbrook has achieved the feat since. The 21 assists from Chamberlain also still stands as the 76ers single game franchise record (since tied by Maurice Cheeks and James Harden).
1971
Willis Reed ties Harry Gallatin’s Knicks single game franchise record with 33 rebounds (along with 27 points) in a 115-108 victory over the Cincinnati Royals.
1976
In his seventh and final NBA All-Star Game appearance, Dave Bing is named MVP as the Eastern Conference defeats the West 123-109 in Philadelphia.
1982
Moses Malone scores a career high 53 points to lead the Rockets to a 122-106 victory over the Clippers. Malone also adds 22 rebounds and four assists, and shoots 15-of-18 (83.3%) on free throws. He becomes the third Rockets player to top 50+ points in a game, following Elvin Hayes in 1968 and Calvin Murphy in 1978.
1990
Manute Bol breaks his own Warriors single game franchise record with 13 blocks in a 128-109 victory over the Nets.
Tony Campbell goes off for a career high 44 points and a career high 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves defeat the Celtics 116-105. It establishes the Timberwolves’ single game scoring record, which Campbell would hold for 15 years before it was broken by Kevin Garnett.
1993
Dominique Wilkins surpasses Bob Pettit as the all-time leading scorer in Hawks franchise history, recording his 20,881st point in a Hawks win over the SuperSonics. Wilkins extended his record to 23,292 points before getting traded to the Clippers during the ’93-’94 season.
1996
For the first time since the 1991 NBA Finals and the last time ever, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson (who had made a recent comeback from retirement) face off against each other in an NBA game. Jordan finishes with 17 points to lead the Bulls to a 99-84 victory over the Lakers.
2021
Fred VanVleet sets the Raptors single game franchise record with 54 points in a 123-108 victory over the Magic.
2025
In one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, Luka Doncic is traded to the Lakers while Anthony Davis is sent to the Mavericks. Dallas also receives Max Christie and a first round pick while Los Angeles receives Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
More on the ABA
- Head of the class: 18 greatest Naismith Hall of Fame NBA induction classes
- Tough act to follow: 23 (mostly) forgotten NBA players who replaced departing legends
- Off the mark: Eight legendary players who struggled in the Three-Point Contest
- You’re the best around: 80 greatest NBA players of the 1980s
- Mostly valuable: 17 greatest players who never earned NBA league MVP
- Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record
- Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team
- So close and yet so far: 22 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title
- Inauspicious debuts: 18 greatest players who weren’t named to the NBA All-Rookie team
- I can’t dance: 15 greatest NBA players who (played in Division I but) never reached the NCAA Tournament
More on Stat Records and Leaders
- Mark of shame: 10 dishonorable NBA career records
- Don’t you forget about me: 80 basketball moments from the ’80s that changed the sport forever
- That was my night to shine: Eight lesser known single game NBA records
- Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record
- Who did that?: 12 worst players to lead the NBA in a major statistical category
- Stilt to last: Ranking Wilt Chamberlain’s 11 most unbreakable records
- Far from home: Nine notable NBA games played at a neutral site
Basketball, Listed 