October 12
From Hoopedia
- 1944 - Jack Marin is born in Sharon, Pennsylvania.
- 1979 - Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics scores the first three-point field goal in NBA history with 3:48 left in the first quarter of the Celtics' 114-106 victory over Houston at Boston Garden. The game also marked the debut of rookie Larry Bird.
- 1979 - Magic Johnson's first NBA game is a memorable one, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hits a sky hook from the left elbow at the buzzer to give the Lakers a 103-102 victory.
- 1989 - The NBA becomes a member of ABA/USA, the organization representing the United States in FIBA. ABA/USA changes its name to USA Basketball.
- 1999 - Legendary center Wilt Chamberlain (right) passes away at the age of 63 at his home, named Ursa Major after the constellation forming the Big Dipper, his trademark nickname in the basketball world.
- 2004 - The Seattle Storm wins the WNBA title, knocking off the Connecticut Sun two games to one. Betty Lennox is named series MVP.
