1972
In one of the most controversial basketball games ever played, the Soviet Union defeats the United States 51-50 in the men’s Olympic gold medal game, aided by numerous irregular decisions by the officials in the game’s waning moments. The U.S. men’s team was defeated for the first time in Olympic play and refused to accept their silver medals after filing an unsuccessful protest with the International Olympic Committee. Sergey Belov is the leading scorer for the U.S.S.R. with 20 points, while Sasha Belov (no relation) is the hero, hitting the game-winning basket.
1947
Harthorne Wingo is born in Tryon, North Carolina. In his senior year of high school, he was part of the first integrated class at Tryon High School and was the only Black member of the basketball team.
1954
Walter Davis is born in Pineville, North Carolina. He led South Mecklenburg High School to three North Carolina state titles.
1965
NBA All-Star Dan Majerle is born in Traverse City, Michigan.
1967
B.J. Armstrong is born in Detroit, Michigan. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
1969
Former NBA player and assistant coach Sean Rooks is born in New York, New York.
1978
Shane Battier is born in Birmingham, Michigan. He was named Michigan “Mr. Basketball” in 1997.
1982
Having announced a comeback for the ’82-’83 season, Dave Cowens is traded from the Celtics to the Bucks in exchange for Quinn Buckner.
1985
J.R. Smith is born in Freehold, New Jersey. He attended four different high schools but played basketball for only two of them, finishing with St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark.
1986
Luc Mbah a Moute is born in Yaounde, Cameroon. He is a prince in the Cameroonian village of Bia Messe, as his father was the elected village chief.
2001
The United States cruises to a Goodwill Games title with a 91-63 victory over Argentina in the gold medal game in Brisbane, Australia. For the first time ever, the U.S. Goodwill Games roster featured NBA players, highlighted by Kenyon Martin, Baron Davis, Jermaine O’Neal, and Rashard Lewis. The Goodwill Games would be discontinued later in the year due to low television ratings, with a 2005 edition in Phoenix cancelled.
Yugoslavia wins its seventh and final EuroBasket title, defeating host Turkey 78-69 in the Final in Istanbul. Peja Stojakovic is named tournament MVP while Dirk Nowitzki is the leading scorer and Pau Gasol is named to the all-tournament team in his EuroBasket debut. Spain defeats Germany 99-90 in the third place game, with Gasol dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds while Nowitzki finishes with 43 points and 15 rebounds.
2006
The Detroit Shock win their second WNBA title, defeating the Sacramento Monarchs 80-75 in the winner-take-all game five of the WNBA Finals. Deanna Nolan leads Detroit with 24 points and is named Finals MVP.
2010
An overmatched Russia team puts up a fight, but Kevin Durant dominates with 33 points to lead the United States to an 89-79 victory in the FIBA World Championship quarterfinals in Istanbul.
2014
The United States continues its FIBA World Cup dominance in Barcelona, with a 119-76 victory over Slovenia in the quarterfinals. Klay Thompson leads the Americans with 20 points, while Anthony Davis finishes with 13 points and 11 rebounds. In the other quarterfinals match-ups, Lithuania defeats Turkey 73-61, Serbia dominates Brazil 84-56, and France stuns the host Spanish team 65-52.
2020
In arguably the most thrilling game played in “The Bubble,” game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Celtics and Raptors comes down to double overtime, with the Raptors winning 125-122 to keep the series alive. The Celtics go on to win game seven two days later to advance.