October 24
From Hoopedia
- 1917 - Ralph Dolgoff is born in New York, New York. He played for St. John's. As an accountant he developed a deferred compensation plan (the "Dolgoff Plan") that helped to entice players and referees to jump to the American Basketball Association.
- 1959 - Wilt Chamberlain (right) of the Philadelphia Warriors starts in his first NBA game. He leads the Warriors with 43 points to a 118-109 victory over the New York Knicks, much to the chagrin of the sell-out crowd at Madison Square Garden. He will play his entire career--1,045 consecutive games--without fouling out.
- 1993 - Before a sellout crowd of 20,808 at Mexico City's Palacio de los Deportes, the New York Knicks defeat the Houston Rockets, 103-93, in a preseason match up. The Knicks are led byPatrick Ewing and Charles Smith with 20 points each.
- 1995 - Shaquille O'Neal (of the Orlando Magic) breaks his thumb in a preseason game against the Miami Heat. O’Neal misses the first 22 games of the season.
- 2003 - Pat Riley (right) steps down as head coach of the Miami Heat to concentrate on his role as team President. He is replaced by assistant coach Stan Van Gundy.
