October 23
From Hoopedia
- 1964 - The United States team captures their sixth straight Olympic gold medal, defeating the Soviet Union, 73-59. Lucious Jackson leads all US scorers in the final game with 17 points.
- 1967 - In the Teaneck Armory the New Jersey Americans (above) of the American Basketball Association host the Pittsburg Pipers in their first game. The Pipers prevail, 110-107. The Americans soon change their name to the "Nets."
- 1975 - Bill Willoughby makes his debut for the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the youngest player in league history at 18 years, five months and three days old. That record would last for twenty years, until Jermaine O'Neal breaks it.
- 1987 - The first McDonald’s Open is played in Milwaukee involving the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, the Soviet National Team and the Italian League champion, Tracer Milan. It is the first tournament involving NBA teams to be sanctioned by FIBA.
- 1993 - In the first preseason game between two NBA teams ever played in Europe, the Orlando Magic, behind 14 fourth-quarter points from Dennis Scott, defeat the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 before a sell-out crowd of 9,483 at Wembley Arena in the opening of the two game NBA London Games series.
- 1996 - Sheryl Swoopes is the first player signed by the WNBA. Rebecca Lobo, Ruthie Bolton, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper and Michele Timms (the first international player signed) soon follow.
