On This Day (Dec. 21)
On This Day (Dec. 21)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on December 21.
Rodgers Sets Franchise Mark
On this day in 1966, the Chicago Bulls’ Guy Rodgers dished out a franchise-record 24 assists in a 110-107 win over the New York Knicks. It was the first of nine straight 10-assist games for Rodgers, the second-longest such streak in franchise history (Michael Jordan, 12).
Rodgers is one of only four players in NBA history to record a 20-assist game for three different franchises:
Guy Rodgers (Warriors, Bulls, Bucks)
Kevin Porter (Bullets, Pistons, Nets
John Lucas (Rockets, Warriors, Spurs)
Rajon Rondo (Celtics, Kings, Pelicans)
Rodgers holds the single-game assist record for two of those franchises (Warriors and Bulls). The only other player to hold the single-game assist record for multiple franchises is Kevin Porter (three).
Abdul-Jabbar Reaches Milestone
On this day in 1980, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 42 points in a 135-122 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the fifth player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points.
There are now 23 players in that group, but only two reached the mark in fewer games than Abdul-Jabbar:
691 — Wilt Chamberlain
782 — Michael Jordan
889 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
915 — LeBron James
917 — Oscar Robertson
Big Game for Big O
On this day in 1962, the Cincinnati Royals’ Oscar Robertson tallied 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 129-116 win over the Chicago Zephyrs. It’s one of seven career games in which Robertson recorded at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and seven assists, the second-most such games in NBA history:
16 — Wilt Chamberlain
7 — Oscar Robertson
4 — Elgin Baylor
2 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2 — Nikola Jokic
Robertson — who had 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists his previous outing — became the first player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in back-to-back games. Since then, it’s only been achieved two more times, once by Robertson (Dec. 25 & 27, 1963) and once by Wilt Chamberlain (March 16 & 18, 1968).