April 27

From Hoopedia

• 1892 - The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reports that "a new game of ball" has been introduced at the New York City YMCA. Called "basket ball," it is "like football, but not nearly so rough." To see the article, click here.

• 1950 - The Boston Celtics hire Red Auerbach (above) for a reported $10,000 annual salary. In the 1950-51 season he will lead them to a 39-30 record and their first playoff appearance. Before he retires as coach the Celtics will capture nine NBA titles.

• 1952 - Hall of Famer George Gervin is born in Detroit, Michigan. "The Iceman" led the NBA in scoring four times, played in three ABA All-Star Games and nine NBA All-Star Games.

• 1960 - The Minneapolis Lakers announce that they will relocate to Los Angeles, California.

• 1984 - Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons) and Bernard King (New York Knicks) engage in a great playoff shoot-out in Game 5 of the 1984 Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. King scores 12 of his game-high 44 points in the final 5:12 of the fourth quarter but Thomas steals his thunder by tallying Detroit’s final 14 points in a span of just 1:34 to send the game into overtime where each star has four points. New York wins, 127-123.

• 1989 - For the first time ever, the NBA Draft is broadcast live in prime time by TBS from the Felt Forum in New York. The Sacramento Kings select Louisville center Pervis Ellison with the first overall pick. The number of rounds is reduced from three to two.

• 1994 - The NBA Board of Governors grants a franchise to a Vancouver group. The Vancouver Grizzlies become the NBA’s 29th franchise, and second located in Canada, joining the Toronto Raptors in entering the league for the 1995-96 season. The Grizzlies would move to Memphis prior to the 2001-02 season.