This Day in NBA Sports History: May 11, 1980-2011
The best of this day in NBA sports history. May 11. A player’s tragedy, an iconic dunk, a record of 3-pointers in a half, basketball in Asia, a shared Rookie of the Year Award, the highest-scoring NBA playoff game ever, Hall of Fame inductee, a Dr. Recipe and a miracle game.
So, prepare your cup of coffee, and let’s get started.
May 11, 2011
Was found dead in his apartment at the age of 34, the former NBA player Robert Traylor.
From the University of Michigan, nicknamed “Tractor”, where he was a standout for three seasons,
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Traylor with the sixth pick in 1998, but they traded his rights to Milwaukee in a significant deal that sent Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas.
Traylor played for the Bucks in the first two seasons of an NBA career that included stops in Cleveland, Charlotte and New Orleans.
Click here to see him in action.
May 11, 2007
Baron Davis ICONIC dunk over Andrei Kirilenko in Golden State’s 125-105 win against the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Here you can see the dunk from every angle.
May 11, 2001
Vince Carter connected eight 3-pointers in one half, to give his Toronto Raptors a 102-78 win over Philadelphia in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
It broke a record shared by five players of six 3-pointers made in one half of a playoff game.
To see the Vince highlights from that game click here.
May 11, 2000
The NBA developmental league’s entry in the 2000 Asian Basketball Association League, Hall of Fame guard Nate “Tiny” Archibald is named head coach of the NBA Ambassadors. Tony Campbell was named as Archibald’s assistant coach.
The NBA Ambassadors compete against teams from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan over a six-week period.
May 11, 2000
Named co-winners of the 1999-2000 Schick Rookie of the Year Award, Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls and Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets, who both enjoyed stellar first-year campaigns.
Brand and Francis each received 58 of a possible 121 votes.
May 11, 1992
The highest-scoring NBA playoff game was a 304 total points, Portland Trail Blazers defeated the host Phoenix Suns 153-151 in double-overtime in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal Round series.
The Blazers won the series in five games.
May 11, 1992
Among the inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, are NBA legends Bob Lanier and Connie Hawkins and long-time NBA coach Jack Ramsay.
May 11, 1980
Now considered one of the NBA’s 60 greatest playoff moments, Julius Erving, aka, Dr. J. makes this memorable move.
“There I was, trying to win a championship, and my jaw dropped,” Lakers point guard Magic Johnson recalled.
The Lakers would go on to win the series in six games.
This Day In NBA Sports History
If you miss the last articles, May 10, May 9.
