This Day in Basketball History

[key2win]

Vancouver should have never drafted Steve Francis knowing that he didnt want to play for them.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

Vancouver should have never drafted Steve Francis knowing that he didnt want to play for them.

True, but hey, they got Othella FREAKING Harrington!

[gladdyontherise]

So were any of these guys besides Francis any good? lol

[B.I.G.Poppa]

So were any of these guys besides Francis any good? lol

Dickerson was aight before he racked up billions of injuries lol.

And Maclean and Smith are former Wizards/Bullets, so they're automatic HOFers.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

August 28th

2004 - At the Athens Olympics, Argentina wins its first-ever Olympic gold medal in men's basketball and becomes the first country other than the United States to win the gold medal since 1988, defeating Italy, 84-69. Luis Alberto Scola(sound familiar?) leads all scorers with 25 points. On the women's side, Team USA sweeps through, beating Australia in the gold medal game, 74-63, as they meet in the finals for the second consecutive Olympics. Lisa Leslie leads the way again, averaging 15.6 ppg and 8.0 rpg.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

August 29th

1974 - Nineteen year-old Moses Malone makes history by signing a seven-year contract worth up to $3 million with the ABA Utah Stars. By becoming the first modern player to go directly from high school to the pros, Malone became the highest-paid teenager in sports history.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

August 30th

1979 - Ann Meyers, four-time All-America at UCLA, signs a one-year, $50,000 contract with the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Meyers tries out, but does not make the team.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

August 31st

1990 - Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton passes away. Clifton was the first African American to sign a contract to play in the National Basketball Association. He debuted with the Knicks in 1950.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

September 1st

2001 - The Los Angeles Sparks claim their first WNBA Championship to give the city of Los Angeles a sweep of professional basketball titles. Lisa Leslie becomes first WNBA player to capture all three MVP awards (All-Star MVP, League MVP, Finals MVP) in the same season, joining NBA greats Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan and Willis Reed as the only pro hoopsters to accomplish that feat. Sparks coach Michael Cooper becomes the first person to claim NBA and WNBA titles, having won five championships as a player with the Lakers.

[key2win]

Funny how the city of Los Angeles also has one of the best WNBA basketball franchises.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

September 2nd

1948 - Hall of Fame guard and Streetball legend Nate "Tiny" Archibald is born in New York City. He is the only player to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season.

[key2win]

Tiny was an amazing basketball player!

[B.I.G.Poppa]

Tiny was an amazing basketball player!

Yup, one of the best little men ever!

[B.I.G.Poppa]

September 3rd

2008 - Oklahoma City team officials unveil the team's new name and logo. The former Seattle SuperSonics franchise is now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[B.I.G.Poppa]

September 4th

1967 - Lloyd "Sweet Pea" Daniels is born in Brooklyn, New York. Despite dropping out of high school and never playing college ball, Daniels played five seasons in the NBA and several more in Europe.