On December 21, 1891, 30-year-old James Naismith (above) 
introduced the first game of basketball. Based on 13 rules
created by Naismith, the game was tested by 18 students at
the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training
School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Brian Wheeler, known by the nickname "Wheels", was a
radio announcer and host best known for his work as the 
the play-by-play radio announcer for the Portland Trail
Blazers of the National Basketball Association from 1998
to 2019.

Wheeler had reportedly been in poor health for some time. He
died today at age 62.

On November 1, 1946, the New York Knickerbockers beat 
the Toronto Huskies in the first NBA game, 68-66. 

The Knickerbockers were led by guard Leo Gottlieb, who
scored 14 points in the game played before 7,090 fans at
Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. 

Leo "Ace" Gottlieb (1920 – 1972) 

On October 31, 1950, 21-year-old Earl Lloyd became the
first African American to play in an NBA game when he took      
to the court in the season opener for the Washington Capitols.       

  
 

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a men’s
professional basketball major league from 1967 to 1976.

The ABA merged into the National Basketball Association
(NBA) in 1976, resulting in four ABA teams joining the NBA
and the introduction of the NBA 3-point shot in 1979.