This Day in Basketball History
1994 - Dream Team II wins World Championship
"Dream Team II" takes home the FIBA World Championship of Basketball, defeating Russia 137-91 in the gold-medal game. The United States rolled through the tournament undefeated, winning every game by at least 15 points.
Led by tournament MVP Shaquille O'Neal and All-Tournament players Reggie Miller and Shawn Kemp, the group successfully followed up the original Dream Team's 1992 Olympic run, though with far less fanfare.
The victory marked just the third of four World Championships for the U.S., and they'll look to add a fifth later this month in Barcelona at the since-renamed FIBA World Cup.
1959 - Magic Johnson is born
Normally in this space, the birthdays get listed at the end as a sort of curious footnote. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, however, is no footnote, and his 55th birthday deserves a little more attention.
Johnson's story is well-known. One of the best players of all time, the Michigan State product followed up a successful collegiate career by immediately hopping into action for the Los Angeles Lakers and helping them win the 1980 NBA championship. Over the first 12 years of his career, Johnson would make 11 All-Star teams, win five championships and earn three MVP awards.
Just ahead of the 1991-92 season, however, Johnson tested positive for HIV. At a Nov. 7 press conference, he announced his immediate retirement, one of the most iconic moments in league history.
In 1992, though, Johnson was selected as a member of the Dream Team, competing alongside long-time rival Larry Bird and winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. In 1995, he would return for a 36-game tour before "going out on my own terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."
Despite playing just 906 regular-season games in his career, the Hall of Famer ranks fifth in NBA history in assists, 20th in steals and tops in assists per game with an 11.2 average that will probably never be touched.
Birthdays
1959 - Magic Johnson
1972 - Ed O'Bannon
1974 - Chucky Atkins