The NBA tipped off its landmark 75th Anniversary Season on Oct. 20 (PHT) in a celebration that lasts throughout the 2021-22 campaign.
Below is a day-by-day look at landmark moments, games, performances and more from this week in NBA lore.
Oct. 31
October 31, 1950
Earl Lloyd became the first black player to compete in the NBA, playing for the Washington Capitols in a 78-70 road loss to the Rochester Royals.
October 31, 1969
The Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Cincinnati Royals 129-121, giving Lenny Wilkens, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, his first coaching victory.
October 31, 1997
Tim Duncan makes his NBA debut in the San Antonio Spurs’ 107-96 win against the Denver Nuggets.
October 31, 1997
Tracy McGrady makes his NBA debut in the Toronto Raptors’ 114-101 loss to the Miami Heat.
October 31, 1997
Chauncey Billups makes his NBA debut in the Boston Celtics’ 92-85 win against the Chicago Bulls.
October 31, 2012
Damian Lillard makes his NBA debut in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 116-106 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
October 31, 2012
Anthony Davis makes his NBA debut in the New Orleans Hornets’ 99-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
October 31, 2015
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors scores 53 points in a 134-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
October 31, 2018
Derrick Rose of the Minnesota Timberwolves career-high 50 points in a 128-125 win over the Utah Jazz.
Nov. 1
November 1, 1946
The New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Huskies 68-66 in the first NBA game, which was played in Toronto. Any fan taller than Toronto’s 6-8 center George Nostrand got in free.
November 1, 1949
Dick McGuire made his debut for the New York Knicks at the Chicago Stags. The Knicks won in overtime 89-87.
November 1, 1949
Ed Macauley made his debut for the St. Louis Bombers against the Tri-City Blackhawks. The Bombers won 72-51.
November 1, 1950
Bill Sharman made his debut for the Washington Capitols at home against the Indianapolis Olympians. The Capitols won 100-84.
November 1, 1950
Bob Cousy made his debut for the Boston Celtics at Ft. Wayne. The Pistons won 107-84.
November 1, 1986
Brad Daugherty makes his NBA debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 113-106 win against the Washington Bullets.
November 1, 1991
Dikembe Mutombo makes his NBA debut in the Denver Nuggets’ 108-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
November 1, 1996
Fifty years to the day that the first NBA game was played in Toronto between teams from New York and Toronto, the New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-99.
November 1, 1996
Ray Allen and Allen Iverson make their NBA debuts for the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively. The Bucks won the game 111-103.
Steve Nash makes his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in their 96-82 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ben Wallace makes his NBA debut for the Washington Wizards in a 96-92 loss to the Orlando Magic.
November 1, 2000
Pat Riley became only the second coach in NBA history to amass 1,000 regular season victories when the Miami Heat opened the season with a 105-79 victory over the Orlando Magic. Riley joined Lenny Wilkens as the only two coaches to achieve the mark.
November 1, 2001
With the No. 1 selection in the inaugural NBDL Draft (known today as the NBA G League), the Fayetteville Patriots selected Chris Andersen, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Blinn (Texas) Community College.
November 1, 2001
Pau Gasol makes his NBA debut for the Memphis Grizzlies in a 90-80 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
November 1, 2005
Chris Paul makes his NBA debut for the New Orleans Hornets in a 93-67 win against the Sacramento Kings.
November 1, 2006
Kyle Lowry makes his NBA debut for the Memphis Grizzlies in a 118-117 loss to the New York Knicks.
November 1, 2016
Vince Carter becomes the 24th player in NBA history to score 24,000 career points.
Nov. 2
November 2, 1946
Red Auerbach made his professional coaching debut for the Washington Capitols in a 50-33 road win over the Detroit Falcons.
November 2, 1949
Slater Martin and Vern Mikkelsen made their debuts for the Minneapolis Lakers at the Philadelphia Warriors. The Lakers won 81-69.
November 2, 1990
The Golden State Warriors registered a 162-158 win over the Denver Nuggets at McNichols Arena, with the 320 points setting an NBA record for the most points scored by two teams in a non-overtime game.
November 2, 1990
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz 119-96 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Japan in the first regular season game played outside North America by any major professional sports league. The teams also met the next night in Tokyo, with the Jazz winning 102-101.
November 2, 1996
The Heat’s Pat Riley became the eighth coach to win 800 games in Miami’s 97-95 win at Indiana. Riley accomplished this feat two weeks shy of his 15th coaching anniversary — quicker than any coach in NBA history.
November 2, 1999
NBA.com tipped off the 1999-2000 season at 7 p.m. (ET) with a seven-hour, live simulcast of the debut of NBA.com TV, the league’s new 24-hour television network. NBA.com also offered for the first time free Japanese-language audio broadcasts of the 1999 NBA Japan Games, featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings in two regular season games at the Tokyo Dome, November 6 and 7. Produced at NBA Entertainment’s facility in Secaucus, N.J., NBA.com TV combines real-time statistics, scores, and news from NBA.com with live studio-based programming, real-time “look-ins” of NBA games, game highlights, vintage NBA games, NBA videos and special programming from the award-winning archives of NBA
November 2, 1999
LA Clippers’ rookie forward Lamar Odom scored 30 points in his NBA debut, a 104-92 loss to Seattle.
November 2, 2005
Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum becomes the youngest player ever to play in a regular season NBA game at 18 years, six days, breaking Jermaine O’Neal’s 10-year old record by 46 days.
November 2, 2013
Four-time NBA All-Star Walt Bellamy , a Hall of Famer, dies at the age of 74.
November 2, 2014
Carmelo Anthony becomes the 40th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points.
Nov. 3
November 3, 1948
The Washington Capitols beat the Philadelphia Warriors 77-70, to win the first of 15 consecutive games to start the season, the best start in NBA history. The mark stood for 45 years before it was tied by the 1993-94 Houston Rockets.
November 3, 1949
Dolph Schayes makes his NBA debut for the Syracuse Nationals in their 78-58 win against the Denver Nuggets.
November 3, 1951
Neil Johnston made his debut for the Philadelphia Warriors at home against the Ft. Wayne Pistons. The Warriors won 70-69.
November 3, 1956
Cliff Hagan made his debut for the St. Louis Hawks at home against Syracuse. The Nationals won 75-73.
November 3, 1962
Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco Warriors scored 72 points at the Los Angeles Lakers, the fourth-highest point total in NBA history.
November 3, 1982
Randy Smith played in his 845th consecutive game, passing Johnny “Red” Kerr as the NBA’s All-time Iron Man. Smith would go on to play in 906 consecutive games, a streak which concluded on March 13, 1983. A.C. Green of the Dallas Mavericks broke Smith’s record when he played in his 907th consecutive game on November 20, 1997.
November 3, 1989
Nineteen years after their inaugural home game, the Portland Trail Blazers retired Bill Walton’s jersey No. 32.
November 3, 1989
Sarunas Marciulionis and Alexander Volkov became the first players from the Soviet Union to participate in a regular season NBA game. Marciulionis scored 19 points as Golden State lost to Phoenix 136-106, and Volkov was held scoreless as Atlanta lost to Indiana 126-103.
November 3, 1989
The Minnesota Timberwolves opened their first season in the NBA by dropping a 106-94 decision to the host Seattle SuperSonics.
November 3, 1990
Atlanta’s Moses Malone set an NBA record for free throws made in a career by hitting 7-of-9 from the line in a 121-120 win over Indiana at the Omni. Those seven successful FT attempts allowed Malone to pass Oscar Robertson–who previously held the record with 7,694 –on the all-time list. Moses Malone was surpassed on March 24, 2001, when Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz connected on his 8,532nd free throw in a game against the Washington Wizards.
November 3, 1990
Gary Payton makes his NBA debut for the Seattle SuperSonics in their 118-106 win against the Houston Rockets.
November 3, 1995
With a 105-91 victory over Charlotte, Chicago won their first of an NBA record 72 games in one season and their first of an NBA record 37 home games won at the start of a season.
November 3, 1995
The NBA’s two Canadian expansion teams, the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies, both make successful NBA debuts with victories in their first regular-season games. In front of more than 33,000 fans at SkyDome, the Raptors defeated New Jersey 94-79. The Grizzlies won their opener on the road, defeating Portland 92-80 at the Blazers’ new home, the Rose Garden.
November 3, 1995
In a major trade just before the start of the 1995-96 season, Charlotte sent center Alonzo Mourning, guard Pete Myers and forward-center LeRon Ellis to Miami in exchange for swingman Glen Rice, point guard Khalid Reeves, center Matt Geiger and a 1996 first round draft pick.
November 3, 1995
Kevin Garnett makes his NBA debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 95-86 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
November 3, 1996
Kobe Bryant makes his NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in their 91-85 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
November 3, 1999
The Boston Celtics hold a special evening on opening night vs. the Washington Wizards, in honor of Red Auerbach, who had a hand in each of the team’s 16 NBA championships. At halftime, legendary Celtics Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn assist Auerbach in the raising of a banner commemorating his 50th season. This evening’s game, along with all other home games, will feature video highlights, dedications and vignettes sharing memories and special events from Auerbach’s legendary career.
November 3, 1999
The Los Angeles Lakers debut in their new home, Staples Center, by hosting the Vancouver Grizzlies. Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn co-hosted a ceremony unveiling the Lakers’ retired jerseys and championship banners in their new building.
November 3, 2001
The NBDL announced the 2001-02 Supplemental Draft selections. The Roanoke Dazzle selected 7-foot center Lorenzo Coleman from Tennessee Tech with the No. 1 overall selection.
November 3, 2001
Steve Smith of the San Antonio Spurs, playing in his first game against his former Portland Trail Blazers teammates, tied an NBA record for most 3-point field goals in a game without a miss, as he went 8-for-8 from beyond the arc and finished with 36 points in a 106-90 triumph.
November 3, 2004
Dwight Howard makes his NBA debut in the Orlando Magic’s 93-92 win against the Denver Nuggets.
November 3, 2008
Chauncey Billups is traded Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb from the Detroit Pistons to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson.
Nov. 4
November 4, 1950
Paul Arizin made his debut for the Philadelphia Warriors at home against the Boston Celtics. The Warriors won 77-68.
November 4, 1960
Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA record for the most free throw attempts in a game with none made when he missed all 10 of his tries against Detroit. Chamberlain’s dubious record last more than 40 years before another dominant center, Shaquille O’Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers, broke it by missing all 11 free throw attempts against Seattle on December 8, 2000.
November 4, 1961
Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors began a streak of 65 consecutive games of scoring 30 or more points. The second-longest such streak in NBA history — only 31 games — was set by Chamberlain the next season.
November 4, 1965
Johnny Kerr played in the last of his 844 consecutive games spanning 12 seasons, then an NBA record, as his Baltimore Bullets lost 108-107 at New York.
November 4, 1987
The Blazers honor Maurice Lucas by retiring his uniform number (#20).
November 4, 1988
In front of 23,388 fans at the sold-out Charlotte Coliseum, the Charlotte Hornets, playing their first NBA game, were defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 133-93.
November 4, 1989
The Orlando Magic opened their inaugural season in the NBA with a 111-106 loss to the New Jersey Nets at Orlando Arena.
November 4, 1989
David Robinson made his debut for the San Antonio Spurs against the Los Angeles Lakers. San Antonio won 106-98. Robinson’s NBA debut was delayed two years because of his military commitment.
November 4, 1993
NBA Vice President, Operations Rod Thorn announced that veteran referee Darell Garretson would relinquish his on-court officiating duties at the conclusion of the 1993-94 season, his 27th in the NBA. Starting with the 1994-95 season, Garretson became the NBA’s Director of Officiating.
November 4, 1993
The NBA Board of Governors voted to grant the league’s 28th franchise to a Toronto group headed by John Bitove, Jr. The Raptors began play in the 1995-96 season.
November 4, 1994
After having spent the previous 28 seasons in Chicago Stadium, the Bulls successfully opened their new arena across the street, the United Center, with an 89-83 opening night win over Charlotte in front of 22,313 fans. Scottie Pippen’s game-high 22 points helped lead the Bulls to victory.
November 4, 1994
Clyde Drexler scored a game-high 26 points and Buck Williams pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 121-100 victory over the LA Clippers, in a game played before a sold-out crowd of 14,239 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The game marked the third time in five years that the NBA tipped off the regular season in Japan.
November 4, 1994
Grant Hill makes his NBA debut with the Detroit Pistons in a 115-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
November 4, 1996
With four assists during Houston’s 75-72 win over Utah, Charles Barkley became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 3,500 assists for his career.
November 4, 1997
Washington’s Rod Strickland dished the 5,000th assist of his career in the Wizards’ 120-96 win over Denver.
November 4, 1997
Milwaukee ended Orlando’s NBA-record streak of 316 straight games with at least one three-pointer in a 110-76 win for the Bucks.
November 4, 1999
The Atlanta Hawks break the seal on the new Philips Arena by hosting the Milwaukee Bucks. Recording artist Montel Jordan sang the national anthem.
November 4, 2005
The Utah Jazz’s Jerry Sloan passed Bill Fitch for fifth on the NBA’s all-time win list (945) at the Oracle Arena beating the Golden State Warriors 91-85.
November 4, 2016
Stephen Curry’s record streak of games with at least one 3-pointer made ends at 157.
November 4, 2016
Chris Paul finds J.J. Redick for a floater and in doing so, becomes the Clippers’ all-time assist leader, passing Randy Smith. That assist gave Paul 3,499 at that point and he finished his career in LA with 4,023 assists.
Nov. 5
November 5, 1946
Chuck Connors of the Boston Celtics shattered the first backboard in NBA history during the warm-up before a Celtics game. Connors went on to shatter desperadoes in the television show “The Rifleman.”
November 5, 1955
Jack Twyman made his debut for the Rochester Royals at home against New York. The Knicks won 100-98 in overtime.
November 5, 1971
Los Angeles Lakers forward Elgin Baylor, plagued by injury, retired after a 14-year, 846-game career that included 23,149 points. Five years later, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
November 5, 1982
With a 99-91 loss to the New Jersey Nets, the Cleveland Cavaliers set an NBA record for consecutive games lost (over two seasons) with 24.
November 5, 1988
The visiting Los Angeles Clippers spoiled the debut of NBA basketball in the state of Florida with a 111-91 win over the Miami Heat at the Miami Arena.
November 5, 1988
Mitch Richmond makes his NBA debut for the Golden State Warriors in their 117-104 win against the Phoenix Suns.
November 5, 1993
San Antonio, playing its first regular season game at the new Alamodome, established an NBA record for opening night attendance by drawing 36,523 fans. The Spurs sent the crowd home happy with a 91-85 win over Golden State, led by David Robinson’s game-high 32 points.
November 5, 1993
The Houston Rockets beat the New Jersey Nets 110-88 to begin their 15-game start of season winning streak, tying the 1948 Washington Capitols for the best start in NBA history.
November 5, 1994
Jason Kidd makes his NBA debut for the Dallas Mavericks in their 112-103 win against the New Jersey Nets.
November 5, 2008
Spurs guard Tony Parker scores a career-high 55 points in a 129-125 loss to the Timberwolves. Parker shoots 22-for-36 overall and nearly registers a triple-double, finishing with seven rebounds and 10 assists.
November 5, 2016
LeBron James scores 25 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers and passes Hakeem Olajuwon for 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Nov. 6
November 6, 1971
The Los Angeles Lakers won the first of what would turn out to be an NBA-record 16 consecutive road games, beating Golden State 105-89.
November 6, 1987
Reggie Miller makes his NBA debut with the Indiana Pacers in a 108-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers
November 6, 1992
In a 106-94 loss to New York at the Omni, Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins became the 17th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points, after hitting for 30 against the Knicks.
November 6, 1992
Shaquille O’Neal makes his NBA debut with the Orlando Magic in a 110-100 win against the Miami Heat.
November 6, 1992
Robert Parish scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the host Boston Celtics to a 113-92 win over Minnesota, becoming only the second player in NBA history to play in the league for 17 seasons (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20). Parish now holds the record with 21 having passed Abdul-Jabbar in the 1996-97.
November 6, 1992
Two years after becoming the first major professional sports league to play regular season games outside of North America, the NBA returned to Japan for a pair of games to open the 1992-93 season. Shawn Kemp’s 29 points and 20 rebounds led Seattle to a 111-94 win over Houston before a sellout crowd of 15,640 at Yokohama Arena. The SuperSonics completed a Far East sweep the next evening with an 89-85 win.
November 6, 1992
Milwaukee celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a 86-81 win at Detroit.
November 6, 1999
The Conseco Fieldhouse, the new home of the Indiana Pacers, took its bows when the Pacers hosted the Boston Celtics. Hall of Famer and Indiana basketball legend John Wooden served as the honorary scorer, NBC broadcaster Bob Costas handled player introductions and Crystal Gayle performed the national anthem. At halftime, the Pacers paid tribute to the state of Indiana’s 50 greatest basketball legends. The Pacers sent their fans home happy with a 115-108 victory.
November 6, 1999
For the fifth time this decade, the NBA staged regular season games in Japan when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings play two games at the Tokyo Dome on November 6 and November 7 in the NBA Japan Games. Sacramento won the first game by a 100-95 score and Minnesota came back to take the second game 114-101.
November 6, 2007
“Only” 14,908 tickets are sold to see the the Kings host the Seattle SuperSonics, ending a streak of 354 sellouts at Arco Arena. The streak began in 1999.
