On This Day (Nov. 11)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on November 11.
Happy Veterans Day
Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served our country!
During the 1961-62 season, Laker great Elgin Baylor was called to duty by the U.S. Army Reserves. Stationed at Fort Lewis (Wash.), Baylor could only play for the Lakers when on a weekend pass, and was unable to practice with the team before or during the season. Baylor flew commercial flights on weekends so he could join the team in whichever city they were playing.
Despite those obstacles, Baylor played in 48 of a possible 80 games, averaging 38.3 PPG, 18.6 RPG, and 4.6 APG for the Western Division champs. The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals, where they lost in seven games to the Celtics. Baylor averaged 40.6 PPG in that series, scoring a Finals-record 61 points in Game 5.
Hakeem Olajuwon, Part I
On this day in 1989, the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon tallied 24 points, 21 rebounds, 12 blocks, and five steals in a 100-92 win over the Utah Jazz.
Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, Olajuwon is one of only six players to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a game (a total of eight instances):
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (two times)
Hakeem Olajuwon (two times)
Elvin Hayes
Shaquille O’Neal
Shawn Bradley
Joakim Noah
This was one of four career games in which Olajuwon recorded at least 10 blocks and five steals, the most such games in NBA history.
Hakeem Olajuwon, Part II
On this day in 1995, the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon scored 21 points in a 119-97 victory over the Timberwolves, becoming the first international player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points.
At the time, Olajuwon was one of only 21 players in NBA history to reach that milestone, and one of only nine to amass at least 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.
Redd Sets Franchise Record
On this day in 2006, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Michael Redd set a franchise single-game record by scoring 57 points in a loss to the Jazz. The Ohio State alum shot 18-32 from the field (including 6-12 from 3-point range) and 15-17 from the free throw line.
Redd scored 42 of his points in the second half. Over the last 25 seasons, only three player have score more points in a half (first or second):
55 — Kobe Bryant (March 28, 2003)
51 — Devin Booker (March 24, 2017)
45 — Brandon Jennings (Nov. 14, 2009)
Redd went on to average a career-high 26.7 PPG that season.
Scoring Milestone for Nowitzki
On this day in 2014, the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points in a 106-98 win over the Sacramento Kings. Early in the fourth quarter, Nowitzki hit a jump shot from just inside the 3-point line to pass Hakeem Olajuwon and become the leading international scorer in NBA history.
Nowitzki ended his career with 31,560 points, the sixth-highest total in NBA history. He spent his entire 21-season career with the Mavericks, the most seasons a player has ever played for a single franchise.