National Basketball Association History

Basketball Leagues: NCAA - WNBA

Related Topics: NBA All-Star Game - NBA Championship

Events in Sport

Events 1 - 100 of 483

Boxing Title Fight

1930-06-12 German boxer Max Schmeling beats Jack Sharkey by disqualification in 4 rounds in NYC for vacant NBA, NYSAC, The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles; first time title won on a foul

Carnera vs Loughran

1934-03-01 Italian boxer Primo Carnera beats American challenger Tommy Loughran by unanimous points decision at Madison Square Garden, NYC for the NYSAC and NBA heavyweight titles

  • 1947-01-09 Providence Steamrollers guard Dino Martin becomes the first NBA player to ever score 40 points in a game, in a 91-68 win over Cleveland Rebels at Rhode Island Auditorium
  • 1947-07-01 Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA), holds its inaugural college player draft
  • 1948-11-03 Kleggie Hermsen and Bones McKinney each score 17 points as Washington Capitols beat Philadelphia Warriors, 77-70 at Washington Coliseum to win first of 15 straight games to start season; best start in NBA history
  • 1949-04-13 Basketball Association of America Finals: Minneapolis Lakers beat Washington Capitols, 77-56 to take series, 4 games to 2; BAA and National Basketball League merge later that year to create the NBA
  • 1949-08-03 Basketball Association of America (BAA) & National Basketball League (NBL) merge to form National Basketball Association (NBA), Maurice Podoloff elected head of new league
  • 1950-04-25 Chuck Cooper becomes the 1st African American to be drafted into the NBA (for Boston Celtics)

Sports History

1950-10-31 The Big Cat, Earl Lloyd becomes the first African-American to play a game in the NBA, scoring 6 points on debut for the Washington Capitols

Sports History

1950-11-01 Celtics' forward Chuck Cooper becomes first African American to play in the NBA in Boston's 107-84 loss at Fort Wayne Pistons; future Hall of Famer Bob Cousy also debuts for Celtics

  • 1950-11-22 7,021 see Fort Wayne Pistons edge Minneapolis Lakers, 19-18 at Minneapolis Auditorium; lowest ever NBA score of 37 combined points
  • 1951-01-06 Indianapolis Olympians beat Rochester Royals, 75-73 in NBA-record 6 overtimes; also the longest game in NBA history
  • 1951-01-09 Washington Capitals NBA team folds

Mikan's 61 Points

1952-01-20 The NBA's first superstar George Mikan scores a career high 61 points leading the Minneapolis Lakers to a 91-81 double-overtime victory over the Rochester Royals

  • 1953-01-02 NBA Baltimore Bullets begin a record 32 game road losing streak (12 games in 1952-53; 20 games in 1953-54) with a 73-66 defeat at the Indianapolis Olympians
  • 1953-03-21 NBA record 106 fouls & 12 players foul out (Boston-Syracuse)
  • 1953-09-15 Boxing's NBA adopts 10-pt-must-scoring-system (10 pts to round winner)
  • 1954-04-22 NBA adopts 24-second shot clock & 6 team-foul rule
  • 1954-12-02 Milwaukee Hawks shooting guard Frank Selvey sets then NBA record of 24 of 26 free throws as he scores 42 points in 117-108 win over the Minneapolis Lakers at Milwaukee Arena

6th NBA All-Star Game

1956-01-24 6th NBA All-Star Game, Rochester War Memorial Coliseum, NY: West beats East, 108-94; MVP: Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks, C

  • 1956-03-19 Biggest NBA margin of victory - Minn Lakers-133, St Louis Hawks-75

Celtic vs. Warriors

1956-11-22 Boston shooting guard Bill Sharman hits 10 free throws in Celtics 101-78 over Philadelphia Warriors at Philadelphia Civic Center

Russell's Rebounds

1957-11-16 Boson Celtics' center Bill Russell sets NBA record of 49 rebounds as Boston beats Philadelphia Warriors, 111-89 at Boston Gardens

Schayes Sets Record

1958-01-12 Syracuse National Dolph Schayes sets NBA record at 11,770 points

  • 1958-01-21 St Louis Hawks forward Bob Pettit becomes first member of the losing team to win the NBA All-Star MVP award; scores 28 points and grabs 26 rebounds, even though East beats West, 130-118
  • 1958-03-09 Detroit Pistons forward George Yardley III scores 26 points in 111-90 defeat to Syracuse Nationals; 1st NBA player to score 2,000 points in a season

NBA Record

1958-03-15 Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati Royals scores a NBA midwest region-record 56-point game

Chamberlain's Record Rookie Score

1960-01-25 Wilt Chamberlain scores 58 points, the most ever by an NBA rookie, as Philadelphia Warriors beat Detroit Pistons, 127-117 at Bethlehem, PA

  • 1960-02-08 Boston Celtic Bill Russell becomes 1st NBAer with 50 rebounds (51)
  • 1960-03-14 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA playoff record of 53 points in Warriors' 132-112 win over Syracuse Nationals at Philadelphia Civic Center

Elgin Baylor

1960-11-15 Elgin Baylor of NBA LA Lakers scores 71 points vs NY Knicks

  • 1960-11-24 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain pulls down NBA record 55 rebounds in Warriors 132-129 defeat to Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Civic Center
  • 1961-03-09 Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 67 points in 135-126 win over NY Knicks at Philadelphia Civic Center
  • 1961-11-22 St. Louis Hawk Bob Pettit sets NBA record, hitting 19 of 19 free throws
  • 1961-11-25 NBA's Bob Cousy becomes 2nd player to score 15,000 points
  • 1961-12-08 Larry Costello scores 32 consecutive pts without a miss (NBA rec)
  • 1961-12-08 Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 78 points in 151-147 3OT defeat to LA Lakers at Philadelphia Civic Center; 2nd highest game total in the NBA history
  • 1962-01-13 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 73 points in Warriors' 135-117 win over Chicago Packers; at the time, most points scored in NBA regulation game, and remains tied for 3rd-highest total
  • 1962-02-22 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record with 34 free-throw attempts (converts 19) in Warriors 139-121 win over St. Louis Hawks at Philadelphia Civic Center
  • 1962-02-25 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 67 points against NY Knicks at Philadelphia Civic Center for the second successive year; Warriors lose 149-135
  • 1962-03-02 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points, most ever by an NBA player in a single game, in Warriors' 169-147 win over NY Knicks in Hershey; 36-of-63 from field, 28-of-32 from free-throw line
  • 1962-03-15 Wilt Chamberlain is 1st to score 4,000 pts in an NBA season
  • 1962-11-03 SF Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 72 points in 127-115 defeat to LA Lakers at LA Memorial Sports Arena; then 4th-highest point total in NBA history; remains 6th highest game total
  • 1962-11-16 SF Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 73 points in 127-111 win over NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden
  • 1962-12-22 1,000,000th NBA point scored
  • 1963-01-11 SF Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 67 points in 134-129 defeat to LA Lakers at Cow Palace
  • 1963-03-10 SF Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 70 points in 163-148 defeat to Syracuse Nationals at Onondaga War Memorial
  • 1963-04-24 Future Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy plays his last NBA game for Boston as Celtics beat LA Lakers, 112-109 in Game 6 for their 5th straight NBA C'ship
  • 1963-08-06 Philadelphia NBA franchise changes name from 'Nationals' to the '76ers', based on US Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776
  • 1963-09-01 Walter Kennedy begins his tenure as the commissioner of the NBA, succeeding Maurice Podoloff

Sports History

1964-02-29 Cincinnati's Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson combine for a rare 40-40 performance as the Royals beat host Philadelphia 76ers, 117-114; NBA MVP Robertson has 43 points; Rookie of the Year Lucas, 40 rebounds

  • 1964-11-13 Bob Petit (St Louis Hawks) becomes 1st NBAer to score 20,000 points
  • 1965-01-15 One of the biggest trades in NBA history; San Francisco Warriors send Wilt Chamberlain to the Philadelphia 76ers for Connie Dierking, Lee Shaffer, Paul Neumann and cash

Auerbach's 1,000th Win

1966-01-12 Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach records his 1,000th NBA career victory (regular season and playoffs), 114-102 over the Los Angeles Lakers in Boston

  • 1966-01-16 Chicago is granted an NBA franchise to be called the Bulls; become the 3rd NBA franchise in the city, after the Chicago Stags (1946–50) and Chicago Packers/Zephyrs (now Washington Wizards)
  • 1966-02-14 Wilt Chamberlain breaks NBA career scoring record at 20,884 points
  • 1966-04-18 Bill Russell becomes first African American coach in NBA history (Boston Celtics)
  • 1966-11-29 1st NBA game at Oakland Coliseum Arena - Warriors beat Bulls 108-101
  • 1966-12-20 NBA awards Seattle Supersonics a franchise for 1967-68 season
  • 1967-01-11 San Diego is granted an NBA franchise to be called the Rockets; franchise moves to Houston for the 1971-72 season
  • 1967-01-20 Philadelphia 76ers center Wilt Chamberlain makes all 15 of his field goal attempts in a 119-108 win over LA Lakers; NBA record for consecutive shots made; beats mark twice before 1966-67 season ends
  • 1967-02-28 Wilt Chamberlain sinks NBA record 35th consecutive field goal
  • 1967-04-05 '76er Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record of 41 rebounds
  • 1967-10-13 Seattle SuperSonics (now OKC Thunder) lose NBA debut game, 144-116 to the San Francisco Warriors at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
  • 1967-12-01 Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 52 points in 76ers' 133-109 win over Seattle SuperSonics; sets NBA record for 22 free throw misses
  • 1967-12-16 Wilt Chamberlain of NBA Philadelphia 76ers scores 68 points vs Chicago
  • 1967-12-31 1st NBA game at Great Western Forum, LA Lakers beat Houston 147-118
  • 1968-01-22 NBA announces expansion franchise licences awarded to Milwaukee (Bucks) and Phoenix (Suns)
  • 1968-02-23 Wilt Chamberlain becomes 1st NBAer to score 25,000 points
  • 1968-04-14 First NBA game at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden; NY Knicks beat San Diego Rockets, 114-102
  • 1968-07-09 Wilt Chamberlain becomes the first reigning NBA MVP to be traded the next season when he moves from Philadelphia 76'ers to LA Lakers
  • 1968-11-23 Milwaukee Bucks make their 1st NBA trade, giving Bob Love & Bob Weiss to Chicago Bulls for Flynn Robinson

NBA Finals

1969-04-23 LA Lakers guard Jerry West scores 53 points in 120-118 NBA Finals Game 1 win over Boston Celtics at the LA Forum

Sports History

1969-05-05 Milwaukee Bucks sign #1 NBA Draft pick, star UCLA center Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

  • 1969-08-12 Boston Celtics sold for an NBA record $6 million
  • 1970-02-06 NBA expands to 18 teams with Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston & Portland
  • 1970-10-28 NBA Cleveland Cavaliers 1st home game, lose to San Diego 110-99
  • 1970-11-12 Cleveland Cavaliers notch 1st NBA victory, in their 16th game, beating the Trail Blazers 105-103, in Portland, Oregon
  • 1970-12-06 Cleveland Cavaliers 1st NBA home victory, beating Buffalo Braves 108-106
  • 1971-03-08 Milwaukee Bucks win their 20th straight NBA game (team record)
  • 1971-11-05 NBA's LA Lakers starts a 33 game consecutive victory streak
  • 1972-01-07 Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 134-90 for their 33rd straight win, the longest winning streak in major professional sports
  • 1972-01-18 22nd NBA All-Star Game, The Forum, Inglewood, Ca: West beats East, 112-110: MVP: Jerry West, LA Lakers, G, hits a last-second, 20-foot game-winning jumper
  • 1972-02-16 Wilt Chamberlain of the Los Angeles Lakers becomes first player in NBA history to reach the career 30,000 point mark during a 110-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns
  • 1972-03-14 NBA's Cincinnati Royals, plagued by poor home attendance, announce they are moving franchise to Kansas City
  • 1972-03-22 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar named NBA MVP
  • 1972-03-26 LA Lakers break NBA wins record by winning 69 of 82 games (69-13), record will stand for 24 years
  • 1973-02-11 Philadelphia 76ers lose their 20th NBA game in a row

Sports History

1973-03-29 Boston Celtic Dave Cowens wins NBA MVP

NBA Record

1973-04-01 Boston Celtics captain John Havlicek scores career high 54 points in 134-109 rout of Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of 1st round Eastern Conference playoffs; hits NBA playoff record 24-of-36 field-goal attempts

Contract of Interest

1973-09-21 Nate Archibald signs 7 yr contract with NBA KC Kings for $450,000

  • 1973-10-28 Elmore Smith of Lakers blocks 17 shots in a game (NBA record)
  • 1973-12-02 Capital Centre (USAir Arena) opens in Landover Maryland; NBA's Washington Bullets beat Seattle SuperSonics, 98-96 in opening game; arena demolished 2002
  • 1974-01-01 Ernie DiGregorio of Buffalo hands out 25 assists in the Braves' 120-119 win over Portland, establishing an NBA single-game record for assists by a rookie
  • 1974-09-03 Future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson retires; leaves NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists & 7,804 rebounds in 1,040 games

Birthdays in Sport

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 650

  • 1883-08-09 George Hoyt, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (author "The Theory and Practice of Basketball Officiating"), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1962)
  • 1890-08-18 Maurice Podoloff, American attorney, professional sports administrator (AHL President, 1943-47; NBA President, 1946-63), and namesake of NBA regular season MVP Award, born in Yelisavetgrad, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1985) [birth details unconfirmed]
  • 1913-07-26 Louis Salica, American boxer (NBA World Bantamweight title 1935, 40; Olympic bronze flyweight 1932), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2002)

Jersey Joe Walcott (1914-1994)

1914-01-31 American boxer (NYSAC, NBA, The Ring heavyweight titles 1951-52), county sheriff, and state athletic commissioner, born in Merchantville, New Jersey

  • 1916-06-16 Angelo "Hank" Luisetti, American collegiate basketball forward (Stanford, 1935-38), 1st to use a one-handed shot, born in San Francisco, California (d. 2002)
  • 1916-07-22 Marcel Cerdan, French boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring middleweight titles 1948-49), born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria (d. 1949)
  • 1916-11-27 Chick Hearn, American basketball broadcaster (called 3,338 LA Lakers games), born in Aurora, Illinois (d. 2002)

Red Auerbach (1917-2006)

1917-09-20 American Basketball HOF coach (9xNBA C'ship; NBA Coach of the Year 1965 Boston Celtics; 11×NBA All-Star Game HC) and executive (President Boston Celtics 7× NBA C'ship), born in Brooklyn, New York

  • 1918-05-26 Anton Christoforidis, Greek boxer (NBA light heavyweight title 1941), born in Mersin, Turkey (d. 1985)
  • 1919-08-11 Luis Olmo, pioneering Puerto Rican NBA player (Brooklyn Dodgers), born in Arecibo (d. 2017)
  • 1920-07-04 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), born in New York City (d. 2015)
  • 1920-08-10 William "Red" Holzman, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (New York Knicks 14 seasons), born in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1998)
  • 1920-09-14 Bud Palmer, American basketball player (NY Knicks) and sportscaster, born in Hollywood, California (d. 2013)
  • 1922-03-01 Fred Scolari, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1952, 53; Washington Capitols; Baltimore Bullets), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2002)
  • 1923-03-31 Don Barksdale, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1948, NBA All-Star 1953), born in Oakland, CA (d. 1993)
  • 1923-05-01 Frank Brian, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1951, 52; Fort Wayne Pistons), born in Zachary, Louisiana (d. 2017)
  • 1923-12-21 Wataru Misaka, American basketball point guard (first non-white player, first player of Asian descent in BAA [later known NBA]; NY Knicks), born in Ogden, Utah (d. 2019)
  • 1924-05-13 Harry Glickman, American journalist, promoter and sports executive (co-founder NBA Portland Trail Blazers, President 1987-94), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2020)

George Mikan (1924-2005)

1924-06-18 American Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1951-54; NBL MVP 1948; Minneapolis Lakers), born in Joliet, Illinois

  • 1924-07-10 Johnny Bach, American basketball coach (Fordham Uni, Penn State Uni; NBA C'ship 1991-93 Chicago Bulls assistant coach), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2016)
  • 1924-10-09 Arnie Risen, Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1952-55; NBA C'ship 1951, 57; Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics), born in Williamstown, Kentucky (d. 2012)
  • 1925-07-29 Arnie Ferrin, American College Basketball HOF guard (NCAA C'ship, Final Four MOB 1944 Uni of Utah; NBA C'ship Minneapolis Lakers 1949, 50), born in Salt Lake City, Utah (d. 2022)
  • 1925-09-19 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania (d. 2017)

Bill Sharman (1926-2013)

1926-05-25 American Basketball HOF guard (8 × NBA All-Star; 4 x NBA C'ship; Boston Celtics) and coach (NBA C'ship 1972 LA Lakers), born in Abilene, Texas

  • 1926-10-03 Marques Haynes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Harlem Globetrotters), born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma (d. 2015)
  • 1926-11-02 Myer "Whitey" Skoog, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1952, 53, 54 Minneapolis Lakers), born in Duluth, Minnesota (d. 2019)
  • 1927-03-22 Marty Blake, NBA executive (GM Atlanta Hawks, NBA Director of Scouting), born in Wyoming, PA (d. 2013)
  • 1927-05-20 Harry "Bud" Grant, American Pro Football HOF coach (NFL Coach of the Year 1969 Minnesota Vikings; 4 x Grey Cup C'ship Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1950 Minnesota Lakers), born in Superior, Wisconsin (d. 2023) [1]
  • 1927-12-02 Ralph Beard, American basketball guard (Olympic gold 1948; NBA All-Star 1951; life ban point shaving scandal 1951), born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky (d. 2007)
  • 1928-03-22 Ed Macauley, American Basketball Hall of Fame center (7-time NBA All Star), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2011)

Earl Lloyd (1928-2015)

1928-04-03 1st African American basketball player in the NBA, born in Alexandria, Virginia

  • 1928-06-07 Randy Turpin, British boxer (NYSAC, NBA and The Ring middleweight titles 1951-53), born in Leamington Spa, England (d. 1966)

Bob Cousy (95 years old)

1928-08-09 Basketball Hall of Fame guard (NBA C'ship 1957, 59-63; NBA MVP 1957; 13 × NBA All-Star 1951–63; Boston Celtics), born in Manhattan, New York

  • 1928-11-03 George Yardley III, American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (6 × NBA All-Star 1955–60; first player to score 2,000 points in a season; Fort Wayne Pistons), born in Hollywood, California (d. 2004)
  • 1930-10-30 Don Meineke, American basketball forward (NBA Rookie of the Year 1953; Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 2013)
  • 1930-11-10 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), born in Muskogee, Oklahoma (d. 2017)
  • 1930-11-15 Robert Cohen, French boxer (NYSAC, NBA, The Ring bantamweight titles 1954-56), born in Bône, Algeria (d. 2022)
  • 1931-01-05 Walt Davis, American athlete (Olympic gold high jump 1952) and basketball center (NBA C'ship 1956, 58; Philadelphia Warriors, St. Louis Hawks), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2020)
  • 1931-07-21 Gene Fullmer, American boxer (World Middleweight title 1957; NBA [WBA] World Middleweight title 1959-62), born in West Jordan, Utah (d. 2015)
  • 1931-09-03 Dick Motta, American basketball coach (NBA Championship, Washington Bullets 1977-78), born in Midvale, Utah
  • 1931-10-07 Cotton Fitzsimmons, American Basketball HOF coach (NJCAA C'ship 1966, 67, Moberly Area CC; Kansas State; NBA: Phoenix Suns; Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs), born in Hannibal, Missouri (d. 2004)
  • 1931-12-18 Gene Shue, American NBA basketball guard, 1954-64, 5X All-Star (New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, and 2 other teams), and NBA coach, 1966-89, 2X Coach of the Year (Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and 2 other teams), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2022)
  • 1932-01-14 Tony DeMarco, American boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring welterweight titles 1955), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2021)
  • 1932-05-19 Bill Fitch, American Basketball HOF coach (NBA C'ship 1981, Boston Celtics; NBA Coach of the Year 1976, 80; NBA All-Star coach 1982; Cleveland Cavaliers; NJ Nets, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers), born in Davenport, Iowa (d. 2022)
  • 1932-05-25 K. C. Jones, American Basketball Hall of Fame point guard (Olympic gold 1956; NBA C'ship 1959–66, Boston Celtics) and coach (NBA C'ship 1984, 86; Boston Celtics), born in Taylor, Texas (d. 2020)
  • 1932-05-29 Richie Guerin, American basketball Hall of Fame guard (6-time NBA All Star), born in New York City
  • 1932-07-17 Johnny Kerr, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 59, 63; Syracuse Nats/Philadelphia 76ers), coach (Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns) and broadcaster (Chicago Bulls), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2009)
  • 1932-10-29 Dick Garmaker, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1957-60; Minneapolis Lakers), born in Hibbing, Minnesota (d. 2020)

Bob Pettit (91 years old)

1932-12-12 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (NBA MVP 1956, 59), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • 1933-01-13 Tom Gola, American basketball player and NBA Hall-of-Famer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2014)
  • 1933-06-17 Maurice Stokes, American Basketball HOF power forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 57, 58; NBA Rookie of the Year 1956; Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), born in Rankin, Pennsylvania (d. 1970)
  • 1933-06-24 Sam Jones, American College/Basketball HOF guard (North Carolina Central Uni; 10 × NBA C'ships; NBA All-Star 1962, 64–66, 68; Boston Celtics), born in Wilmington, North Carolina (d. 2021)
  • 1933-08-17 Kenny Sears, American NBA player (NY Knicks), born in Watsonville, California (d. 2017)
  • 1933-09-25 Hubie Brown, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster (2-time NBA Coach of the Year), born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
  • 1933-12-04 Dick Ricketts Jr., American basketball center (# 1 overall pick 1955 NBA draft St. Louis Hawks) and baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals), born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania (d. 1988)
  • 1933-12-08 Johnny Green, American basketball power forward (NBA All-Star 1962, 63, 65, 71; NY Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, SD Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Cincinnati Royals/KC-Omaha Kings), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 2023)

Bill Russell (1934-2022)

1934-02-12 American Basketball HOF center (11 × NBA C'ship; 5 x NBA MVP; 12 x NBA All-Star; Boston Celtics; Olympic gold 1956) and coach (NBA C'ship 1968, 69 Boston Celtics), born in West Monroe, Louisiana [1]

Elgin Baylor (1934-2021)

1934-09-16 American Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (11 x NBA All Star; NBA All-Star Game MVP 1959; Minneapolis/LA Lakers), born in Washington, D.C.

  • 1934-10-07 Willie Naulls, American basketball small forward (NBA C'ship 1964, 65, 66 Boston Celtics; 4 × NBA All-Star; NY Knicks), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2018)

Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999)

1936-08-21 American College / Basketball HOF center (4 x NBA MVP; 13 x All Star; NBA C'ship 1967, 72 [MVP]; Philadelphia/SF Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, LA Lakers), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • 1936-10-02 Dick Barnett, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1968; NBA C'ship 1970, 73 NY Knicks), born in Gary, Indiana
  • 1936-11-07 Al Attles, American NBA point guard and coach (SF/GS Warriors), born in Newark, New Jersey
  • 1936-12-14 Carl Scheer, American basketball executive (general manager Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets; inventor NBA Slam Dunk Contest), born in Springfield, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
  • 1937-03-26 Wayne Embry, American Basketball HOF center (5 x NBA All Star; NBA C'ship 1968 Boston Celtics) and executive (NBA Executive of the Year 1992 Cleveland Cavaliers, 1998 Toronto Raptors), born in Springfield, Ohio
  • 1937-05-31 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2021)
  • 1937-08-26 Tom Heinsohn, American NBA star, coach (Boston Celtics) and broadcaster, born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2020)
  • 1937-10-03 John MacLeod, American basketball coach (NBA Phoenix Suns 1973-87), born in New Albany, Indiana (d. 2019)

Lenny Wilkens (86 years old)

1937-10-28 American NBA Point Guard and Head Coach (Seattle SuperSonics), born in Brooklyn, New York

Jerry West (85 years old)

1938-05-28 American Basketball Hall of Fame guard, executive (LA Lakers, 14-time NBA All Star), born in Chelyan, West Virginia

Oscar Robertson (85 years old)

1938-11-24 American NBA guard (Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Olympic gold 1960), born in Charlotte, Tennessee

  • 1939-07-15 Don Kojis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1968, 69; Detroit Pistons, SD Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2021)
  • 1939-07-24 Walt Bellamy, American Basketball HOF center (NBA All-Star 1962, 63, 64, 65; NBA Rookie of Year 1962; Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets; New York Knicks; Olympic gold 1960), born in New Bern, North Carolina (d. 2013)
  • 1939-10-25 Zelmo Beaty, American Basketball HOF center (2 × NBA All-Star; 3 × ABA All-Star; St Louis Hawks, Utah Stars, LA Lakers), born in Hillister, Texas (d. 2013)
  • 1939-11-02 Tom Thacker, American basketball forward (only player to play on NCAA, ABA and NBA C'ship teams), born in Covington, Kentucky
  • 1940-02-22 Chet Walker, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1964, 66, 67, 70, 71, 73, 74; NBA C'ship 1967, Philadelphia 76ers; Chicago Bulls), born in Bethlehem, Mississippi
  • 1940-03-28 Kevin Loughery, American NBA star and coach (Baltimore; Philadelphia), born in Brooklyn, New York

Jerry Lucas (83 years old)

1940-03-30 NBA center (Olympic gold 1960, NY Knicks), born in Middletown, Ohio

John Havlicek (1940-2019)

1940-04-08 American College/Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (8 x NBA C'ship Boston Celtics; 13 x NBA All Star; 4 x All-NBA First Team), born in Martin's Ferry, Ohio

  • 1940-09-14 Larry Brown, American NBA player and coach (NY Knicks), born in Brooklyn, New York

Dave DeBusschere (1940-2003)

1940-10-16 American NBA forward (NY Knicks) and last ABA commissioner (1975-76), born in Detroit, Michigan

  • 1940-11-21 Terry Dischinger, American College Basketball HOF guard (Purdue; 3 x NBA All-Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1963 Baltimore Bullets; Detroit Pistons; Olympic gold 1960), born in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 2023)
  • 1941-01-31 Len Chappell, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1964 NY Knicks; All-American 1962 Wake Forest Uni), born in Portage, Pennsylvania (d. 2018)
  • 1941-05-09 Howard Komives, American NBA star (NY Knicks, Buffalo Braves), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 2009)

Nate Thurmond (1941-2016)

1941-07-25 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (7-time NBA All Star), born in Akron, Ohio

  • 1941-10-31 Luke Jackson, American basketball center/forward (Olympic gold 1964; NBA C'ship 1967 Philadelphia 76ers; NBA All-Star 1965), born in San Marcos, Texas (d. 2022)
  • 1941-11-01 Joe Caldwell, American basketball guard (Olympic gold 1964; NBA & ABA All Star; St. Louis Hawks, Carolina Cougars), born in Texas City, Texas
  • 1942-03-28 Jerry Sloan, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Utah Jazz 1988-2011) and shooting guard (NBA All-Star 1967, 69; Chicago Bulls), born in McLeansboro, Illinois (d. 2020)

Willis Reed (1942-2023)

1942-06-25 American Basketball HOF center (NBA C'ship 1970 [MVP], 1973 [MVP]; NBA MVP 1970; 7 × NBA All-Star; NY Knicks) and coach (NY Knicks, NJ Nets), born in Dubach, Louisiana

  • 1942-07-17 Connie Hawkins, American professional basketball player, 1961-76 ABA MVP-1968 (Harlem Globetrotters, 1963-66; Phoenix Suns, L.A. Lakers), born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York (d. 2017)
  • 1942-07-21 Fred Hetzel, American NBA star (SF, Cincinnati, Milwaukee Bucks), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1942-08-16 Les Hunter, American basketball center (NCAA C'ship 1963, Loyola Ramblers; NBA: Baltimore Bullets; ABA All Star 1968, 69; Miami Floridians), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 2020)
  • 1942-09-22 David Stern, American basketball executive (NBA commissioner 1984-2014; longest-tenured commissioner in history of major North American sports leagues), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2020)
  • 1942-11-02 Ron Reed, American basketball forward (Detroit Pistons) and baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1968 Atlanta Braves; World Series 1980 Philadelphia Phillies), born in LaPorte, Indiana
  • 1943-02-22 Dick Van Arsdale, American NBA all-star (New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1943-02-22 Tom Van Arsdale, American NBA basketball player, 1965-77, 3X All-Star (Detroit Pistons, Cincinnati/Kansas City/Omaha Kings, Philadelphia 76ers), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1943-03-23 Gail Goodrich, NBA star (Lakers, Suns)

Billy Cunningham (80 years old)

1943-06-03 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (NBA C'ship 1967 Philadelphia 76ers) and coach (NBA C'ship 1983 Philadelphia 76ers; 4 x HC NBA All-Star Game), born in Brooklyn, New York

  • 1943-07-12 Paul Silas, American College Basketball HOF forward (NBA C'ship 1974, 76 Boston Celtics, 1979 Seattle SuperSonics; 2 x NBA All-Star) and coach (Charlotte/NO Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats), born in Prescott, Arkansas (d. 2022)

Bill Bradley (80 years old)

1943-07-28 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (NBA C'ship 1970, 73; NBA All-Star 1973; NY Knicks), and politician (Democratic US Senator 1979-97), born in Crystal City, Missouri

  • 1943-11-24 Dave Bing, American Basketball Hall of Fame point guard (7-time NBA All Star), born in Washington, D.C.

Weddings in Sport

Red Auerbach

1941-06-05 NBA coach Red Auerbach (23) weds Dorothy Lewis

George Mikan

1947-05-17 NBA center George Mikan (22) weds college sweetheart Patricia Lu Daveny

Bob Cousy

1950-12-08 NBA player Bob Cousy (22) weds his college sweetheart Missie Ritterbusch

Bill Russell

1956-12-09 NBA player Bill Russell (22) weds college sweetheart Rose Swisher; divorce in 1973

Elgin Baylor

1958-06-22 NBA forward Elgin Baylor (23) weds Ruby Saunder at Mt Olive Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Jerry West

1960-04-10 NBA guard Jerry West (21) weds his college sweetheart Martha Kane in Morgantown, West Virginia

Oscar Robertson

1960-06-25 NBA player Oscar Robertson (21) weds teacher Yvonne Crittenden in Cincinnati, Ohio

Jerry Lucas

1960-09-18 NBA forward Jerry Lucas (20) weds sophomore Treva Geib

Lenny Wilkens

1962-07-28 NBA player Lenny Wilkens (24) weds Marilyn Reed

Bob Pettit

1965-06-19 NBA forward Bob Pettit (32) weds Carole Crowell in Alexandria, Louisiana

Elvin Hayes

1967-03-26 NBA forward Elvin Hayes (21) weds college sweetheart Erna Livingston

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1971-05-28 NBA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) weds school teacher Janice Brown

Julius Erving

1974-02-10 NBA player Julius Erving (23) weds model Turquoise Brown at Waldorf

Larry Bird

1975-11-08 NBA legend Larry Bird (18) weds highschool sweetheart Janet Condra

Pete Maravich

1976-01-11 NBA player Pete Maravich (27) weds college sweetheart Jackie Elliser in Metairie, Louisiana, until his death in 1988

George Gervin

1976-07-07 NBA guard George Gervin (24) weds Joyce King

Bill Walton

1979-02-24 NBA player Bill Walton (26) weds Susan Guth

Isiah Thomas

1985-07-19 NBA player Isiah Thomas (24) weds Lynn Kendall in Chicago

Charles Barkley

1989-02-09 NBA power forward Charles Barkley (26) weds legal aide Maureen Blumhardt in Elkton, Maryland

Michael Jordan

1989-09-02 NBA basketball star Michael Jordan (26) weds Juanita Vanoy (30) at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas

  • 1989-09-30 NBA legend Larry Bird (32) weds long-time girlfriend Dinah Mattingly in Terre Haute, Indiana

Patrick Ewing

1990-07-27 NBA star Patrick Ewing (27) weds Rita Williams

Magic Johnson

1991-09-15 NBA star Magic Johnson marries Earletha "Cookie" Kelly

David Robinson

1991-12-16 NBA center David Robinson (26) weds Valerie Hoggatt at a Baptist church ceremony in San Antonio, Texas

Hakeem Olajuwon

1996-08-08 NBA Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon (33) weds Dalia Asafi (18) in Houston, Texas

Dennis Rodman & Carmen Electra

1998-11-14 Chicago Bulls NBA player Dennis Rodman (37) weds "Baywatch" actress Carmen Electra (26) at Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada

Clyde Drexler

1998-12-30 NBA player Clyde Drexler (36) weds attorney Gaynell Floyd; divorce in 2011

Kobe Bryant

2001-04-18 NBA star player Kobe Bryant (22) weds Vanessa Laine at St. Edward Roman Catholic Church in Dana Point, California

  • 2003-05-13 NBA star Dennis Rodman (42) weds his third wife, Michelle Moyer in a small civil ceremony in Newport Beach, California, on his birthday; divorce in 2012

Steve Nash

2005-06-11 Welsh-Canadian NBA player Steve Nash (31) weds Alejandra Amarilla (31-ish); divorce in 2011

  • 2006-09-12 NBA basketball star Tracy McGrady (27) weds CleRenda Harris at the sandy beach in Los Cabos, Mexico

Eva Longoria

2007-07-06 NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker (25) weds Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria (32) at a civil ceremony in Paris, France

  • 2007-07-07 Actress and model Eva Longoria (32) weds NBA player Tony Parker (25), for the second time in two days), at The Church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois in Paris, France
  • 2007-08-06 NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (27) weds Chinese women's national basketball team member Ye Li (26) at the Pudong Shangri-La hotel in Shanghai

Adriana Lima

2009-02-14 Victoria's Secret Angel model Adriana Lima (31) weds NBA player Marko Jaric (33) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

  • 2009-05-16 Actress Jennifer Freeman (23) weds NBA guard Earl Watson (29) in Beverly Hills, California

Khloé Kardashian

2009-09-27 Businesswoman and TV personality Khloé Kardashian (28) weds NBA basketball forward Lamar Odom (32) in Beverly Hills, California

  • 2010-07-10 NBA star Carmelo Anthony (25) weds actress Lala Vasquez (30) at Cipriani 42nd St. in New York City
  • 2011-05-22 American R&B singer Keyshia Cole (28) weds NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Daniel Gibson (25) in Cleveland, Ohio; divorce in 2017
  • 2011-07-09 American NBA Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas (24) weds long-term girlfriend Jaime Collins at Louisiana's Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • 2012-07-26 NBA guard Rafer Alston (36) weds "Basketball Wives" star Ashley Walker at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
  • 2013-04-27 NBA great Michael Jordan (50) weds 2nd wife model Yvette Prieto at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida

LeBron James

2013-09-14 NBA player LeBron James (28) weds longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson at the Capella Chapel in San Diego, California

  • 2014-01-30 NBA player Baron Davis (34) weds CAA agent Isabella Brewster (31) in a secret ceremony

Dwyane Wade

2014-08-30 NBA basketball star Dwyane Wade (32) weds actress Gabrielle Union (41) at Miami's Chateau Artisan castle

Caroline Wozniacki & David Lee

2019-06-16 Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki 28) weds American NBA basketball player David Lee (36) in Castiglion del Bosco resort in Tuscany, Italy; Serena Williams is one of the bridesmaids

  • 2023-07-22 Cameroonian NBA player Joel Embiid (29) weds Brazilian model Anna de Paula (28) in Southampton, New York

Divorces in Sport

Larry Bird

1976-10-31 NBA legend Larry Bird (19) divorces highschool sweetheart Janet Condra only 11 months after getting married

George Gervin

1984-10-16 Joyce King divorces NBA guard George Gervin (32) after nearly 8 years of marriage

Michael Jordan

2006-12-29 NBA basketball star Michael Jordan (43) divorces Juanita Vanoy (47) due to irreconcilable differences after 17 years of marriage

Eva Longoria

2011-01-28 "Desperate Housewives" actress Eva Longoria (36) divorces NBA player Tony Parker (29) due to irreconcilable differences 3 years after a storybook wedding


Deaths in Sport

Deaths 1 - 100 of 102

  • 1949-10-27 Marcel Cerdan, French boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring middleweight titles 1948-49), dies in a plane crash at 33
  • 1966-05-16 Randy Turpin, British boxer (NYSAC, NBA and The Ring middleweight titles 1951-53), shot dead in his home at 37
  • 1970-04-06 Maurice Stokes, American Basketball HOF power forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 57, 58; NBA Rookie of the Year 1956; Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), dies from a heart attack at 36
  • 1985-10-31 Anton Christoforidis, Greek boxer (NBA light heavyweight title 1941), dies of a heart attack at 68
  • 1985-11-24 Maurice Podoloff, American attorney, professional sports administrator (AHL President, 1936-52; NBA President, 1946-63), and namesake of NBA regular season MVP Award, dies at 95

Pete Maravich (1947-1988)

1988-01-05 American Basketball HOF guard (5 × NBA All-Star; All-NBA First Team 1976, 77; NBA scoring champion 1977 NO/Utah Jazz; Atlanta Hawks), dies of heart failure at 40

  • 1988-03-06 Dick Ricketts Jr., American basketball center (# 1 overall pick 1955 NBA draft St. Louis Hawks) and baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals), dies from leukemia at 54
  • 1989-12-03 Fernando Martín, Spanish basketball center (first Spaniard in NBA 1986, Portland Trail Blazers; FIBA Club World Cup 1981, Real Madrid), dies in a car accident at 27
  • 1990-08-31 Nathaniel Clifton "Sweetwater", American NBA player (NY Knicks), dies of a heart attack at 65
  • 1992-05-25 Danny Biasone, American founder of the Syracuse Nationals (persuaded NBA to use 24 second clock), dies at 83
  • 1992-11-10 Chuck Connors, American author, actor (The Rifleman, Branded, Cowboy in Africa), professional basketball and baseball player, dies at 71
  • 1993-03-08 Don Barksdale, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1948, NBA All-Star 1953), dies of throat cancer at 69
  • 1993-06-07 Dražen Petrović, Yugoslav-Croatian NBA player (NJ Nets), dies in auto-accident in Denkendorf, Bavaria, Germany at 28
  • 1993-07-23 James Jordan, father of NBA star Michael Jordan, found dead near McColl, South Carolina
  • 1993-07-27 Reggie Lewis, American NBA star (Boston Celtics), dies of heart failure at 27

Jersey Joe Walcott (1914-1994)

1994-02-25 American boxer (NYSAC, NBA, The Ring heavyweight titles 1951-52), county sheriff, and state athletic commissioner, dies at 80

  • 1994-07-10 Earl Strum, American NBA basketball referee, dies of brain cancer at 66

Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999)

1999-10-12 American College / Basketball HOF center (4 x NBA MVP; 13 x All Star; NBA C'ship 1967, 72 [MVP]; Philadelphia/SF Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, LA Lakers), dies of heart failure at 63

  • 2002-01-18 Alex Hannum, American Basketball HOF coach (1st ABA, NBA winning coach; ABA C'ship 1969 Oakland Oaks; NBA C'ship 1958 St. Louis Hawks, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers), dies at 78
  • 2002-01-30 Louis Salica, American boxer (NBA World Bantamweight title 1935, 40; Olympic bronze flyweight 1932), dies at 89
  • 2002-08-05 Chick Hearn, American basketball broadcaster (called 3,338 LA Lakers games), dies at 85
  • 2002-10-17 Fred Scolari, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1952, 53; Washington Capitols; Baltimore Bullets), dies at 80

Dave DeBusschere (1940-2003)

2003-05-14 American NBA forward (NY Knicks) and last ABA commissioner (1975-76), dies of a heart attack at 62

  • 2004-01-09 Yinka Dare, Nigerian NBA center (NJ Nets), dies at 31
  • 2004-07-24 Cotton Fitzsimmons, American Basketball HOF coach (NJCAA C'ship 1966, 67, Moberly Area CC; Kansas State; NBA: Phoenix Suns; Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs), dies of lung cancer and stroke at 72
  • 2004-08-12 George Yardley III, American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (6 × NBA All-Star 1955–60; first player to score 2,000 points in a season; Fort Wayne Pistons), dies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 75

George Mikan (1924-2005)

2005-06-01 American Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1951-54; NBL MVP 1948; Minneapolis Lakers), dies of diabetes complications at 80

Red Auerbach (1917-2006)

2006-10-28 American Basketball HOF coach (9xNBA C'ship; NBA Coach of the Year 1965 Boston Celtics; 11×NBA All-Star Game HC) and executive (President Boston Celtics 7× NBA C'ship), dies of a heart attack at 89

  • 2007-11-29 Ralph Beard, American basketball guard (Olympic gold 1948; NBA All-Star 1951; life ban point shaving scandal 1951), dies at 79
  • 2008-08-25 Kevin Duckworth, American basketball center (NBA All-Star 1989, 91; Portland Trail Blazers), dies of heart failure at 44
  • 2009-02-20 Larry H. Miller, American businessman and owner of NBA's Utah Jazz, died of complications from type-2 diabetes at 64
  • 2009-02-26 Johnny Kerr, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 59, 63; Syracuse Nats/Philadelphia 76ers), coach (Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns) and broadcaster (Chicago Bulls), dies of prostate cancer at 76
  • 2009-02-26 Norm Van Lier, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1974, 76, 77; Chicago Bulls) and broadcaster (Comcast SportsNet), dies at 61
  • 2009-03-22 Howard Komives, American NBA star (NY Knicks, Buffalo Braves), dies at 67
  • 2010-06-19 Manute Bol, Sudanese-American NBA basketball center, 1985-95 (Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and 3 other teams), political activist, and philanthropist, dies from acute kidney failure at 47
  • 2011-06-09 Mike Mitchell, American basketball small forward (NBA All-Star 1981; Italian League top scorer 1998), dies from cancer at 55
  • 2011-07-05 Armon Gilliam, American NBA forward, 1987-2000 (Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, NJ Nets, and 3 other teams), and college coach, 2001-05 (Penn State), dies of a heart attack at 47
  • 2011-11-08 Ed Macauley, American Basketball Hall of Fame center (7-time NBA All Star), dies of Alzheimer’s disease at 83
  • 2012-08-04 Arnie Risen, Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1952-55; NBA C'ship 1951, 57; Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics), dies at 87
  • 2012-08-06 Dan Roundfield, American basketball forward (3-time NBA All Star), dies from drowning at 59
  • 2013-03-26 Tom Boerwinkle, American NBA player, dies at 67
  • 2013-04-07 Marty Blake, NBA executive (GM Atlanta Hawks, NBA Director of Scouting), dies at 86
  • 2013-08-27 Zelmo Beaty, American Basketball HOF center (2 × NBA All-Star; 3 × ABA All-Star; St Louis Hawks, Utah Stars, LA Lakers), dies at 73
  • 2013-09-03 Don Meineke, American basketball forward (NBA Rookie of the Year 1953; Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), dies at 82

Bill Sharman (1926-2013)

2013-10-25 American Basketball HOF guard (8 × NBA All-Star; 4 x NBA C'ship; Boston Celtics) and coach (NBA C'ship 1972 LA Lakers), dies from stroke complications at 87

  • 2013-11-02 Walt Bellamy, American Basketball HOF center (NBA All-Star 1962, 63, 64, 65; NBA Rookie of Year 1962; Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets; New York Knicks; Olympic gold 1960), dies at 74
  • 2015-02-06 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), dies at 94

Earl Lloyd (1928-2015)

2015-02-26 1st African American basketball player in the NBA, dies at 86

  • 2015-02-28 Anthony Mason, American NBA forward (NY Knicks, Charlotte Hornets), dies at 48 of a heart attack
  • 2015-04-27 Gene Fullmer, American boxer (World Middleweight title 1957; NBA [WBA] World Middleweight title 1959-62), dies at 83
  • 2015-05-22 Marques Haynes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 88
  • 2015-07-25 Bob Kauffman, American NBA basketball forward, 1968-75, 3X All-Star (Buffalo Braves and 3 other teams), and coach, 1977-78 (Detroit Pistons), dies of heart failure at 69
  • 2015-08-27 Darryl Dawkins, American basketball center (Philadelphia 76ers, NJ Nets; NBA breaking a backboard rule), dies of a heart attack at 58

Moses Malone (1955-2015)

2015-09-13 Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA MVP 1979, 82-83; NBA Finals MVP 1983; 12 x NBA All Star; Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers), dies of heart disease at 60

  • 2015-12-11 John "Hot Rod" Williams, American NBA center/forward (Phoenix Suns), dies of cancer at 53
  • 2016-01-07 (John) "JJ" Johnson, American NBA basketball player, 1970-82 (Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, and 2 other teams), dies at 68
  • 2016-01-18 Johnny Bach, American basketball coach (Fordham Uni, Penn State Uni; NBA C'ship 1991-93 Chicago Bulls assistant coach), dies at 91

Nate Thurmond (1941-2016)

2016-07-16 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward (7-time NBA All Star), dies of leukemia at 74

  • 2017-04-23 Kenny Sears, American NBA player (NY Knicks), dies at 83
  • 2017-04-28 Luis Olmo, Puerto Rican NBA player (Brooklyn Dodgers), dies at 97
  • 2017-05-14 Frank Brian, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1951, 52; Fort Wayne Pistons), dies at 94
  • 2017-06-01 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 91
  • 2017-07-04 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), dies at 86
  • 2018-07-12 Len Chappell, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1964 NY Knicks; All-American 1962 Wake Forest Uni), dies of stroke & pneumonia at 77
  • 2018-11-22 Willie Naulls, American basketball small forward (NBA C'ship 1964, 65, 66 Boston Celtics; 4 × NBA All-Star; NY Knicks), dies from respiratory failure at 84
  • 2019-04-04 Myer "Whitey" Skoog, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1952, 53, 54 Minneapolis Lakers), dies at 92
  • 2019-04-14 John MacLeod, American basketball coach (NBA Phoenix Suns 1973-87), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 81

John Havlicek (1940-2019)

2019-04-25 American College/Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (8 x NBA C'ship Boston Celtics; 13 x NBA All Star; 4 x All-NBA First Team), dies of Parkinson's disease at 79

  • 2019-11-20 Wataru Misaka, American basketball point guard (first non-white player, first player of Asian descent in BAA [later known NBA]; NY Knicks), dies at 95
  • 2019-12-13 Carl Scheer, American basketball executive (general manager Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets; inventor NBA Slam Dunk Contest), dies from complications of dementia at 82
  • 2020-01-01 David Stern, American basketball executive (NBA commissioner 1984-2014; longest-tenured commissioner in history of major North American sports leagues), dies from a brain haemorrhage at 77
  • 2020-03-27 Les Hunter, American basketball center (NCAA C'ship 1963, Loyola Ramblers; NBA: Baltimore Bullets; ABA All Star 1968, 69; Miami Floridians), dies from cancer at 77
  • 2020-05-22 Jerry Sloan, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Utah Jazz 1988-2011) and shooting guard (NBA All-Star 1967, 69; Chicago Bulls), dies from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia at 78
  • 2020-06-02 Wes Unseld, American Basketball HOF center (NBA C'ship, Finals MVP 1978; NBA MVP 1969; 5 x NBA All-Star; Washington Bullets) and coach (Washington Bullets), dies from pneumonia at 74
  • 2020-06-10 Harry Glickman, American journalist, promoter and sports executive (co-founder NBA Portland Trail Blazers, President 1987-94), dies at 96
  • 2020-06-13 Dick Garmaker, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1957-60; Minneapolis Lakers), dies at 87
  • 2020-08-29 Clifford Robinson, American basketball center (NBA All-Star 1994; 6th Man of Year Award 1993; Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers), dies from lymphoma at 53
  • 2020-11-09 Tom Heinsohn, American NBA star, coach (Boston Celtics) and broadcaster, dies at 86
  • 2020-11-17 Walt Davis, American athlete (Olympic gold high jump 1952) and basketball center (NBA C'ship 1956, 58; Philadelphia Warriors, St. Louis Hawks), dies at 89
  • 2020-12-25 K. C. Jones, American Basketball Hall of Fame point guard (Olympic gold 1956; NBA C'ship 1959–66, Boston Celtics) and coach (NBA C'ship 1984, 86; Boston Celtics), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 88
  • 2021-01-02 Paul Westphal, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard (NBA C'ship 1974; NBA All-Star 1977–81; Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns) and coach (NBA: Phoenix, Seattle, Sacramento), dies from glioblastoma at 70
  • 2021-01-26 Sekou Smith, American sportswriter (The Clarion-Ledger, The Indianapolis Star, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; NBA TV), dies from COVID-19 at 48
  • 2021-05-28 Mark Eaton, American basketball center (NBA All-Star 1989; NBA Defensive Player of the Year 1985, 89; Utah Jazz), dies after a bicycle accident at 64
  • 2021-10-11 Tony DeMarco, American boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring welterweight titles 1955), dies at 89
  • 2021-10-27 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), dies at 84
  • 2021-11-19 Don Kojis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1968, 69; Detroit Pistons, SD Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics), dies at 82
  • 2021-12-30 Sam Jones, American College/Basketball HOF guard (North Carolina Central Uni; 10 × NBA C'ships; NBA All-Star 1962, 64–66, 68; Boston Celtics), dies at 88
  • 2022-02-02 Bill Fitch, American Basketball HOF coach (NBA C'ship 1981, Boston Celtics; NBA Coach of the Year 1976, 80; NBA All-Star coach 1982; Cleveland Cavaliers; NJ Nets, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers), dies at 89
  • 2022-03-02 Robert Cohen, French boxer (NYSAC, NBA, The Ring bantamweight titles 1954-56), dies at 91
  • 2022-04-03 Gene Shue, American NBA basketball guard, 1954-64, 5X All-Star (New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, and 2 other teams), and NBA coach, 1966-89, 2X Coach of the Year (Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and 2 other teams), dies from melanoma at 90
  • 2022-04-10 John Drew, American basketball small forward (NBA All-Star 1976, 80; Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz), dies from bone cancer at 67

Bill Russell (1934-2022)

2022-07-31 American Basketball HOF center (11 × NBA C'ship; 5 x NBA MVP; 12 x NBA All-Star; Boston Celtics; Olympic gold 1956) and coach (NBA C'ship 1968, 69 Boston Celtics), dies at 88 [1]

  • 2022-10-12 Luke Jackson, American basketball center/forward (Olympic gold 1964; NBA C'ship 1967 Philadelphia 76ers; NBA All-Star 1965), dies from heart failure at 80
  • 2022-12-10 Paul Silas, American College Basketball HOF forward (NBA C'ship 1974, 76 Boston Celtics, 1979 Seattle SuperSonics; 2 x NBA All-Star) and coach (Charlotte/NO Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats), dies from a heart attack at 79
  • 2022-12-27 Arnie Ferrin, American College Basketball HOF guard (NCAA C'ship, Final Four MOB 1944 Uni of Utah; NBA C'ship Minneapolis Lakers 1949, 50), dies at 97
  • 2023-01-17 Chris Ford, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1971 Detroit Pistons; Boston Celtics) and coach (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers), dies from a heart attack at 74
  • 2023-03-11 Harry "Bud" Grant, American Pro Football HOF coach (NFL Coach of the Year 1969 Minnesota Vikings; 4 x Grey Cup C'ship Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1950 Minnesota Lakers), dies at 95 [1]

Willis Reed (1942-2023)

2023-03-21 American Basketball HOF center (NBA C'ship 1970 [MVP], 1973 [MVP]; NBA MVP 1970; 7 × NBA All-Star; NY Knicks) and coach (NY Knicks, NJ Nets), dies from heart failure at 80

  • 2023-10-10 Terry Dischinger, American College Basketball HOF guard (Purdue; 3 x NBA All-Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1963 Baltimore Bullets; Detroit Pistons; Olympic gold 1960), dies at 82
  • 2023-11-02 Walter Davis, American basketball shooting guard (6 x NBA All-Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1978; Olympic gold 1976; Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets), dies at 69