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1960

Eric “Sleepy” Floyd is born in Gastonia, North Carolina. He led Hunter Huss High School to the 1977 North Carolina state title.

1970

Tari Phillips is born in Orlando, Florida. She was a soccer player in her youth and didn’t take up organized basketball until the seventh grade.

1972

Shaquille O’Neal is born in Newark, New Jersey. By age 16, he was 6’10” and dominating for Roger G. Cole High School in San Antonio, where his family relocated due to his stepfather’s military career.

1973

Michael Finley is born in Maywood, Illinois. As a high school senior, he participated in a televised one-on-one competition against then Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.

Greg Ostertag is born in Dallas, Texas. He led Duncanville High School to the 1991 Texas state title.

1982

The Spurs defeat the Bucks 171-166 in triple overtime, setting the record for highest scoring game in NBA history with 337 total points. The record had stood at 316 total points for 20 years, and would be broken just 18 months later by the Pistons and Nuggets. George Gervin is the game’s leading scorer with 50 points while Brian Winters leads Milwaukee with 42 points.

1993

Mookie Blaylock sets the Hawks single game franchise record with 23 assists in a 139-118 victory over the Jazz.

1994

NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner Marcus Smart is born in Flower Mound, Texas.

1995

Josh Hart is born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is the great nephew of Negro Leagues and MLB catcher Elston Howard, who was the first Black player in Yankees history and AL MVP in 1963.

1997

Glen Rice establishes a Hornets single game franchise record with 48 points in a 122-121 victory over the Celtics. The record had previously been held by Larry Johnson since 1995 and would not be topped for almost two decades, with Kemba Walker finally breaking it in 2016.

2001

Clyde Drexler has his jersey #22 retired by the Trail Blazers during a halftime ceremony at the Rose Garden. Over 11-and-a-half seasons with the franchise, Drexler became Portland’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals, and All-Star appearances.

2003

NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Walter Clayton, Jr. is born in Sebring, Florida.

2005

Sean Elliott has his jersey #32 retired by the Spurs in a pregame ceremony.

2015

The NCAA concludes its investigation into recruiting, controlled substance, and academic violations at Syracuse University and levies the program with 106 vacated wins, three years of probation and the loss of 12 scholarships. Head coach Jim Boeheim is also suspended for nine games.

On this date: full archive

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