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1940

Chet Walker is born in Bethlehem, Mississippi. He was the youngest of 10 children, four of whom passed away in childhood, and grew up working on the family cotton farm.

1943

Dick and Tom Van Arsdale are born in Indianapolis, Indiana. The twin brothers were jointly awarded the Indiana Mr. Basketball award in 1961 while starring together for Emmerich Manual High School.

1944

Jim “Goose” Ligon is born in Kokomo, Indiana. While leading Kokomo High School to the 1961 Indiana state title, he was also earning cash by playing semi-pro ball on the side under an assumed name.

1948

NBA champion Dennis Awtrey is born in Los Angeles, California.

1950

Julius Erving is born in East Meadow, New York. His “Doctor” nickname came from a friend and basketball teammate at Roosevelt High School.

1958

The EuroLeague, then known as the FIBA European Champions Cup, begins play in its inaugural season. Soviet (now Latvian) squad Rigas ASK is victorious in its opener over German squad Wissenchaft Berlin and would go on to win the championship.

1959

Lewis Lloyd is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Considered one of the greatest prep players in the city’s history, he was granted the nickname “Black Magic” while starring at Overbrook High School.

1962

Wilt Chamberlain sets an NBA record with 34 free throw attempts in a Warriors win over the Hawks, making only 19 of them. The record would stand for almost 60 years before getting broken by Dwight Howard.

1965

Chris Dudley is born in Stamford, Connecticut. He had a successful high school and college career despite being diagnosed with type one diabetes as a teenager.

1968

NBA All-Star Jayson Williams is born in Ritter, South Carolina.

1970

Adam Keefe is born in Irvine, California. He was named California Player of the Year by USA Today in 1988, while starring for Woodbridge High School.

1974

Bob McAdoo scores a career high 52 points in a 116-109 Buffalo Braves loss to the Celtics, setting the franchise record which still holds over 50 years later for the Clippers.

1986

Four-time NBA All-Star Rajon Rondo is born in Louisville, Kentucky.

1992

Natasha Cloud is born in Broomall, Pennsylvania. She was named All-State in her senior year at Cardinal O’Hara High School.

1994

Elfrid Payton is born in Gretna, Louisiana. His father Elfrid, Sr. is considered one of the greatest defensive linemen in Canadian Football League history.

During All-Star Weekend in Minneapolis, the Rookies Game event is introduced, replacing the Legends Classic. Participants include Chris Webber, Toni Kukoc, Sam Cassell, and Penny Hardaway, who leads all scorers in the exhibition.

1996

Tim Hardaway is traded from the Warriors to the Heat, along with Chris Gatling, in exchange for Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis.

2001

Dikembe Mutombo is traded from the Hawks to the 76ers, along with Roshown McLeod, in exchange for Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed, Theo Ratliff, and Pepe Sanchez. Despite the mid-season re-location, Mutombo earns his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award at the end of the season, and is an integral part of the 76ers’ run to the NBA Finals.

2007

While coaching practice for the Austin Toros of the NBA G-League, Dennis Johnson collapses on court and is later pronounced dead from a heart attack at age 52.

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