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.
CINCINNATI (WKRC) — A hall-of-famed, Emmy-winning sports broadcasting icon will be hanging up the microphone in 2025.
Charles Barkley, former basketball figure and TNT sports host,
revealed 2025 will be his last year as a broadcaster. Following
game four of the NBA Finals on Friday, Barkley told reporters
he would be retiring following the 2024-2025 NBA season. He
turned 61 in February.
