On This Day (Dec. 28)
On This Day (Dec. 28)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on December 28.
Christmas Special
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Thus far all of my posts have been 100% free, but that will be changing on January 1. Sign up for Statitudes using the special link below and you’ll get 20% off your first 12 months.
I think you’ll love it, but don’t take my word for it. Here’s what others are saying:
Regular readers know how often I rely on the tremendous statistical research routinely provided on Twitter by Justin Kubatko. Some excellent news: Justin has just launched his very own Substack filled with NBA research goodness. — Marc Stein
Justin’s always been a must-follow, and his Substack will be, too. — Howard Beck, Sports Illustrated
Shoutout to Justin Kubatko for the assist. Highly recommend his new-ish Substack, Statitudes! — J.E. Skeets, No Dunks Podcast
Please consider a 12-month subscription as a gift to yourself or someone else. Your support will allow me to continue to harvest the statistical content you want to consume. Thank you, and here’s that special link once again.
Happy Holidays
On this day in 2019, the Holiday brothers — Jrue (New Orleans Pelicans), Aaron (Indiana Pacers), and Justin (Pacers) — all played in the Pelicans’ 120-98 win over the Pacers. They became the first trio of brothers in NBA history to appear in the same game.
Aaron and Jrue started for their respective teams, while Justin entered the game with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter. Aaron scored a game-high 25 points; Jrue scored 20 points and dished out seven assists; and Justin was held scoreless in 27 minutes.
Steph First to 3,000
On this day in 2021, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 23 points with five 3-pointers made in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 3,000 3-pointers made.
Curry also tied his NBA record for most consecutive regular-season games with at least one 3-pointer made (157). That streak is still active and currently stands at 215 games.
Drew Youngest with 40/25
On this day in 1974, Atlanta Hawks rookie John Drew had 40 points, 25 rebounds, and seven assists in a 106-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Drew became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a game, a distinction he still holds (age in years-days):
20-089 — John Drew (Dec. 28, 1974)
21-184 — Bob McAdoo (March 28, 1973)
22-184 — Walt Bellamy (Jan. 24, 1962)
22-352 — Bob Pettit (Nov. 29, 1955)
23-064 — Wilt Chamberlain (Oct. 24, 1959)
Drew is one of only three players over the last 50 NBA seasons to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds, and five assists in a game:
John Drew (Dec. 28, 1974)
Chris Webber (Jan. 5, 2001)
Nikola Jokic (Dec. 18, 2022)
Wonder Boy
On this day in 2019, the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic produced 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 141-121 win over the Golden State Warriors. Doncic is one of only three players in NBA history to record a 30-point, 15-assist game before his 21st birthday, and he's the only one to do so more than once:
De’Aaron Fox (Nov. 1, 2018)
Trae Young (March 1, 2019)
Luka Doncic (Nov. 1, 2019)
Doncic (Dec. 28, 2019)
Throughout NBA history, players age 20 years or younger have accounted for 13 30-point triple-doubles. Doncic is responsible for 10 of them (76.9%).
Kareem Starts Streak
On this day in 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 35 points on 14-21 shooting from the field in a loss to the Chicago Bulls, starting a streak of 43 consecutive games in which he made at least 10 field goals. Only one player in NBA history has recorded a longer streak:
116 — Wilt Chamberlain (Oct. 19, 1961–Dec. 29, 1962)
43 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Dec. 28, 1971–March 21, 1972)
43 — Chamberlain (Dec. 20, 1963–March 1, 1964)
29 — Chamberlain (Dec. 25, 1959–Feb. 9, 1960)
28 — Michael Jordan (Jan. 15, 1987–March 11, 1987)
LeBron, Russ Make History
On this day in 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Russell Westbrook each recorded a 20-point triple-double in a 132-123 victory over the Houston Rockets:
James — 32 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST
Westbrook — 24 PTS, 13 REB, 10 AST
James and Westbrook became just the third teammates in NBA history to each record a 20-point triple-double in the same game:
Paul George & Russell Westbrook (Feb. 11, 2019)
Jimmy Butler & Bam Adebayo (Dec. 10, 2019)
LeBron James & Russell Westbrook (Dec. 28, 2021)
It was also the first time in NBA history teammates age 31 years or older have each recorded a triple-double in the same game.