This Day in Basketball History

1956 - Bill Russell signs his first contract with Celtics

Russell, above, was fresh off leading the U.S. to a gold medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics when he signed his first pro deal with the Boston Celtics. He played 13 seasons, and to this day is considered one of the best defensive players - if not one of the best players period - in NBA history.

1990 - Kevin McHale reaches 15,000 points

On his 33rd birthday, the Celtics forward scored 23 points in 29 minutes in a 115-105 win over Charles Barkley's Philadelphia 76ers, reaching the 15,000-point mark for his career. McHale would retire following the 1992-93 season with a total of 17,335 points, good for a 17.9 per game average over his 13-year career.

1992 - Pat Riley reaches 600 wins

The Knicks' 91-87 victory over the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden gives coach Pat Riley his 600th career win. He would more than double that number before leaving coaching, notching 1,210 career victories - third all-time.

Birthdays

1957 - Kevin McHale
1964 - Arvydas Sabonis
1982 - Mo Williams