2008
The Detroit Shock finish off a WNBA Finals sweep of the San Antonio Silver Stars with a 76-60 victory in game three. Katie Smith leads Detroit with 18 points and is named Finals MVP. It’s a third straight WNBA Finals appearance and the third and final WNBA title for the Shock, who re-located just one year later to Tulsa despite their on-court successes.
1936
Adrian Smith is born in Farmington, Kentucky. He grew up in a farmhouse with no electricity and no plumbing and learned to play basketball with a ball made out of rolled-up socks.
1967
Rex Chapman is born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Considered one of the greatest prep players in the state’s history, he was inducted into the Kentucky High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
1969
Despite having their 52-game EuroBasket winning streak snapped by Yugoslavia in the group stage round, the Soviet Union recovers to defeat the Yugoslavians 81-72 in a Finals rematch. Sergei Belov is named tournament MVP. Czechoslovakia defeats Poland in the third place game.
1972
Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Grant Hill is born in Dallas, Texas.
1980
Yuta Tabuse is born in Yokohama, Japan. In 2004, he became the first Japanese player in NBA history when he made his debut with the Suns.
1987
Brandan Wright is born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was named Tennessee Mr. Basketball three times while leading Brentwood Academy to four consecutive Division II state titles.
1992
Cody Zeller is born in Washington, Indiana. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2011 while leading Washington High School to the state title.
1993
Jewell Lloyd is born in Lincolnwood, Illinois. Her hometown honored her in 2024 by declaring December 19 as “Jewell Lloyd Day” in recognition of her achievements.
2014
Tournament MVP Maya Moore leads the way with 18 points as the United States cruises to a 77-64 victory over Spain in the gold medal game of the FIBA World Championship for Women in Istanbul.
