This Day in Basketball History

1964 - Wilt Chamberlain grabs 38 rebounds in Game 4 of NBA Finals

Back in the 1963-64 season, when nobody blinked at a 30-rebound performance, Wilt Chamberlain posted 38 boards in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

It might not have seemed like the biggest deal, as he had already put up at least 38 rebounds in a single game on 18 occasions, but Chamberlain's San Francisco Warriors were taking on Bill Russell's Boston Celtics, who were gunning for a sixth consecutive championship.

The rivalry between Chamberlain and Russell was at its peak, and Russell's 24.7 rebounds per game led the league that season, with Chamberlain falling just short of that mark with 22.3.

Despite Chamberlain's 38 boards, the Celtics walked away with a 98-95 win and proceeded to win the NBA Finals in five games.

Here's the box score from the game:

[Courtesy: Basketball Reference]

1967 - A new champion emerges

For the first time in nine seasons, the NBA saw a champion that wasn't the Celtics.

The Philadelphia 76ers, who had knocked off Boston in the Division Finals, beat San Francisco 125-122 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to claim their first-ever title.

Chamberlain, who was taking on his former Warriors team, dropped 24 points in the contest to earn his first-ever championship ring.

13 years later, the 1967 76ers were voted the NBA's all-time greatest team.

1994 - David Robinson drops 71 points

In the San Antonio Spurs' 112-97 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers, David Robinson became just the fourth player to enjoy a 70-point performance, finishing the contest with 71.

"The Admiral" ended up as the NBA's scoring champion that season with 29.8 points per game, edging out Shaquille O'Neal's 29.3. Throughout his freak 1993-94 campaign, Robinson also enjoyed performances of 52 points against the Charlotte Hornets, 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, 48 points against the Sacramento Kings, and 46 points against the Celtics.

But really, nothing came close to being as special as Robinson's 71-point game.

Birthdays

1955 - Ernie Grunfeld

1967 - Dino Radja

1973 - Eric Snow

1988 - Lance Thomas

1990 - Jan Vesely