2020
The Lakers clinch their record-tying 17th NBA title with a 106-93 victory over the Heat in game six of the NBA Finals. LeBron James leads the way with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, and becomes the first player ever to be named Finals MVP for three different franchises. The team celebrates their title that night at a bar at the Coronado Springs hotel on Disney World campus, where they had been housed mostly in isolation for two months.
1938
Darrall Imhoff is born in San Gabriel, California. He was a walk-on at nearby Cal and blossomed into a two-time All-American and leading rebounder on the ’58-’59 NCAA champions.
1955
Norm Nixon is born in Macon, Georgia. He was all-state in both basketball and football at Southwest High School in Macon, as well as an accomplished track and field athlete.
1960
Randy Breuer is born in Lake City, Minnesota. He was Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 1979, when he led Lake City High School to a second consecutive state title.
1964
The group stage of the men’s tournament gets underway at the Olympics in Tokyo, with the United States defeating Australia 78-45. AAU star Jerry Shipp is the leading scorer for the U.S., with 16 points.
1972
NCAA All-American (at Duke) Cherokee Parks is born in Huntington Beach, California.
1977
NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Desmond Mason is born in Waxahachie, Texas.
1980
The expansion Dallas Mavericks play their first NBA game, upsetting the Spurs 103-92 at home. Winford Boynes, an expansion draft selection from the Nets, is Dallas’ leading scorer with 21 points.
1981
The Trail Blazers honor their 1977 championship team with a ceremony that includes retiring the #15 jersey of Larry Steele, the #45 jersey of Geoff Petrie, and the #13 jersey of Dave Twardzik.
1982
NCAA All-American (at Arizona) Salim Stoudamire is born in Portland, Oregon. He is the cousin of three other NBA players: Damon Stoudamire, Terrence Jones, and Grant Williams.
1987
Mike Conley, Jr. is born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. His father, Michael, Sr., won a gold medal in the Olympics and World Championships for Athletics in the triple jump.
1999
Keldon Johnson is born in Chesterfield, Virginia. He was a McDonald’s All-American at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy.
2001
The NBA cancels pre-season games scheduled in Germany, Japan, and Mexico over security concerns in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
