The First 3 Point Basket
On October 12, 1979, Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics scored the first three-point basket in NBA history with 3:48 left in the first quarter of a 114-106 victory over Houston at Boston Garden. This game also marked the debut of Boston rookie NBA player Larry Bird.
The First Jump Shot
On February 10, 1949, "Jumping Joe" Fulks introduced the jump shot, scoring a then-NBA record 63 points against the Indianapolis Jets.
First Chinese NBA Player
On April 5, 2001, Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks became the first Chinese player to compete in the NBA. Wang had six points and three rebounds in 108-94 win over Atlanta.
Most Points
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scored 100 points, the most ever by an NBA player in a single game, during his team's 169-147 win over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain shot 36-of-63 from the field and 28 of 32 from the free throw line. He also snagged 25 rebounds.
Outstanding NBA Player
In 2000, Shaquille O'Neal became just the third person to sweep MVP honors for the season, capturing the All-Star Game MVP, which he shared with San Antonio's Tim Duncan, NBA MVP, and NBA Finals MVP awards. O'Neal joined Willis Reed (1970) and Michael Jordan (1996).
Early Retirement
Earvin "Magic" Johnson retired unexpectedly on November 7, 1991, after disclosing that he had tested positive for the HIV virus. Johnson, who helped lead the Lakers to five NBA titles in his twelve seasons with the team, retired as the league all-time leader in career assists with 9,921. Johnson returned briefly as an active player for 32 games during the 1995-96 season.
Long Shot
On April 29, 1970, Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West showed he deserved his nickname, "Mr. Clutch," when he hit a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to tie Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. The Lakers went on to score just six points in overtime, however, and lost to the Knicks 111-108.