This Day In Basketball History
1987 - Spurs retire George Gervin's No. 44
Less than two years after retiring, the Iceman sees his famed No. 44 rise to the rafters in San Antonio before a game between the Spurs and Chicago Bulls, the only two NBA teams he ever played for (he also played for the ABA's Virginia Squires).
In a 14-year Hall of Fame career between the ABA and NBA, Gervin averages 25.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks on 50 percent shooting. Gervin also makes 12 All-Star games, seven All-NBA teams and wins the All-Star MVP award in 1980.
1996 - Jermaine O'Neal becomes the youngest NBA player ever
When he checks in for Gary Trent with 7:24 remaining in the second quarter of a win over the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers big man Jermaine O'Neal becomes the youngest player to ever take the floor in the Association, at 18 years, 53 days.
O'Neal goes on to amass over 13,000 points and 7,000 rebounds in his long, All-Star career.
Nine years later, Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum breaks O'Neal's record by checking into a game six days after his 18th birthday.
2000 - Karl Malone passes Wilt Chamberlain on all-time scoring list
With a smooth finger roll in the second quarter of a 98-84 win over the Toronto Raptors, Karl Malone scores his 31,420th career point in the NBA, passing Wilt Chamberlain for second on the all-time scoring list.
The Mailman finishes his illustrious career with an astonishing 36,928 points, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387.
Birthdays
1982 - Eddy Curry
1985 - Josh Smith