January 23
From Hoopedia
- 1959 - In the NBA All-Star Game in Detroit, Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks) and Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis Lakers) become the first co-winners of the MVP award as their West team wins, 124-108.
- 1976 - Paul Robeson, multi-sport star at Rutgers University, opera singer, actor and civil rights activist, passes away at age 77. He was a starter on the St. Christopher Club team that won the Colored Basketball World's Championship three years in a row.
- 1979 - Cleveland Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes is born in St. Louis, Missouri.
- 1980 - San Antonio's George Gervin -- "The Iceman" -- scores 55 points in a 144-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
- 1998 - Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls scores in double figures for the 800th consecutive game in a 100-98 OT win over the New Jersey Nets. Jordan would add 40 more double-figure scoring games to his NBA record before retiring for the second time at the end of the 1997-98 season.
