January 5, 1983: Magic Johnson of the Lakers drives and dunks on Philadelphia's Marc Iavaroni. Magic finished with 23 PTS (11-16 FG)/20 AST/12 REB and Jamaal Wilkes scored 36 PTS but the 76ers defeated Los Angeles in OT, 122-120. Andrew Toney led the Sixers with 28 PTS/8 AST.

January 5, 1993: Golden State rookie Latrell Sprewell with a steal and circus shot in Seattle. Sprewell scored 16 PTS and Tim Hardaway had 30 PTS/9 AST/7 REB but the Warriors fell to the SuperSonics, 116-106. Nate McMillan scored 21 PTS off the Seattle bench. 📺 ESPN/NBA Action

January 5, 1996: Charles Barkley of the Suns with the chasedown block on Pooh Richardson at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Barkley finished with 26 PTS/12 REB but the Clippers defeated Phoenix, 94-88. Richardson had team-highs of 20 PTS/9 AST/5 STL. 📺 ESPN

January 5, 1992: New York’s John Starks dunks on Mark West of Phoenix. Starks scored 16 PTS off the bench and Patrick Ewing had a game-high 37 PTS/13 REB in the Knicks’ 108-104 win. Kevin Johnson had 23 PTS/11 AST for the Suns.

January 5, 1983: Also during the Julius Erving "Rock the baby to sleep and slam dunk" game— Dr. J scores 27 PTS and Andrew Toney has 28 PTS (including this OT game-winner) and 8 AST in the 76ers' 122-120 victory. The Lakers' Jamaal Wilkes scored 36 PTS and Magic Johnson added 23 PTS/20 AST/12 REB.

January 5, 1991: A circus shot by Chicago's Michael Jordan. Jordan finished with 30 PTS in the Bulls' 108-92 win over the Cavaliers. Brad Daugherty had 18 PTS/11 REB and Henry James scored 25 PTS off the bench for Cleveland.

January 5, 1996: Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson dunks on Chris Dudley of Portland. Robinson finished with 23 PTS and Vin Baker scored a game-high 41 PTS in the Bucks' 113-96 win. Clifford Robinson scored 29 PTS to lead the Trail Blazers. 📺 NBA Action

January 5, 1983.

January 4, 1994: Detroit rookie Lindsey Hunter scores a season-high 29 PTS during a 97-91 loss at Chicago. Hunter had a run of 14 straight Pistons points that helped bring them back from a 17-point deficit in the 4th quarter.

January 4, 2003. 📸 Jeff Reinking/NBAE & Dan Levine/AFP

January 4, 2000: Cleveland’s Lamond Murray “captivating The Gund” with three dunks on three consecutive trips down the floor by the Cavs. Kings 111, Cavaliers 107.

January 4, 1996: Doug Christie of the Knicks throws down a pair of lobs from Charles Oakley during New York’s 105-93 win over the New Jersey Nets.

January 4, 2002: Washington's Michael Jordan with the two-handed snatch block on Ron Mercer during an 89-83 win over the Chicago Bulls. Jordan finished with 29 PTS/7 REB/2 BLK/2 STL and Chris Whitney had 18 PTS/8 AST for the Wizards. Mercer scored a team-high 25 PTS (11-21 FG).

January 4, 1994: A wild ending for the Lakers and Nuggets in Denver. James Worthy scored 27 PTS and Sedale Threatt added 24 PTS off the bench for Los Angeles. Reggie Williams finished with 27 PTS and LaPhonso Ellis had 21 PTS/16 REB for Denver. 📺 ESPN/KCAL-TV

January 4, 2003: Desmond Mason slams home the Gary Payton lob pass on a Seattle fast break. Mason scored 21 PTS and Payton had game-highs of 25 PTS & 14 AST but the Sonics fell to the Nuggets, 94-82. Juwan Howard had 20 PTS and Nenê had 17 PTS & 13 REB for Denver. 📺 NBA Action

January 4, 1985: With many former players on hand, the Celtics retire uniform #2 to honor Red Auerbach. Then Boston defeats the Knicks, 105-94. Larry Bird had 32 PTS (13-21 FG)/10 REB and Robert Parish had 21 PTS/12 REB for Boston. Bernard King scored 28 PTS for New York.

January 4, 1984: An assist from Magic Johnson to Michael Cooper and another from Cooper to Magic in the Lakers' 106-99 win at Cleveland. Magic—who'd been out 33 days with a dislocated right finger—came off the bench and scored 11 of his 23 PTS in the 4th quarter. He had 10 AST.

January 4, 1994: John Starks scores 39 PTS and Patrick Ewing finishes with 26 PTS/19 REB/3 BLK in the Knicks' 100-95 win over the Magic. Also for New York, Greg Anthony had 13 PTS/10 AST/5 STL. Shaquille O’Neal scored 26 PTS and Nick Anderson added 18 PTS/8 REB for Orlando.

January 3, 1985: The Cavaliers defeat the Bullets, 100-93. World B. Free scored 21 PTS, John Bagley had 18 PTS/7 AST, Roy Hinson had 17 PTS/10 REB, and Phil Hubbard scored 15 PTS for Cleveland. Washington's Gus Williams had 24 PTS/3 STL and Jeff Ruland added 19 PTS/9 AST/7 REB.

January 3, 2004: Golden State's Brian Cardinal buries a 70-foot shot at the end of the first quarter. Cardinal scored 15 PTS off the bench and Jason Richardson had 24 PTS but the Warriors lost at Detroit, 99-93. Tayshaun Prince had 20 PTS/9 REB/3 STL for the Pistons.

January 3, 1984: Jim Paxson scores 39 PTS (18-26 FG) and Kenny Carr scores 31 PTS (14-21 FG) in Portland's 123-104 win over Kansas City. Also for the Blazers, Wayne Cooper had 18 PTS/10 REB/4 BLK and Fat Lever had 10 PTS/9 AST. Eddie Johnson led the Kings with 23 PTS (11-15 FG).

January 3, 1995: Seattle’s Detlef Schrempf banks in a shot from 55 feet away to end the third quarter in Landover. Schrempf scored 18 PTS and Gary Payton had 24 PTS/7 AST in the SuperSonics' 121-107 win over the Bullets. Calbert Cheaney scored a team-high 23 PTS for Washington.

January 3, 2003: Cleveland's Ricky Davis dunks on Antonio Davis in Toronto. Ricky scored a game-high 29 PTS to go along with 5 AST and 5 STL in the Cavaliers' 81-80 win. Alvin Williams scored 25 PTS and Jerome Williams grabbed 18 REB for the Raptors. 📺 CNN World Sport

January 3, 1995: Eddie Jones of the Lakers "out-jumped everybody" to tip in two of his 22 PTS during a 105-96 win over the Pistons. Vlade Divac had 23 PTS/10 REB and Nick Van Exel added 21 PTS/9 AST for Los Angeles. Terry Mills scored a game-high 24 PTS for Detroit.

January 3, 2003: Indiana's Ron Artest throws a television monitor and smashes a video camera following the Pacers' 98-96 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Artest—who later apologized and paid for the damaged equipment—was suspended for three games and fined $35,000.

January 3, 1984: Bullets rookie Jeff Malone drills the game-winner while falling out of bounds with one second left against the Pistons. Detroit's Bill Laimbeer sank a 25-foot shot just after the final buzzer that was waved off, and Washington held on for the 103-102 victory.

January 2, 2006: New Orleans/Oklahoma City's Desmond Mason dunks on Matt Carroll of the Bobcats. Mason finished with 15 PTS/9 REB and Chris Paul had 24 PTS/11 AST in the Hornets' 103-86 win. Brevin Knight led Charlotte with 19 PTS and teammate Bernard Robinson had 11 PTS/12 REB.

January 2, 1986: Washington's Jeff Malone scored 37 PTS (16-21 FG), Gus Williams had 32 PTS/12 AST, and Cliff Robinson added 28 PTS/13 REB/10 AST in the Bullets' 115-109 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Rookie Gerald Wilkins scored a team-high 19 PTS for New York.

January 2, 2005: Kobe Bryant of the Lakers drives baseline for a reverse slam during a 99-91 win over Denver. Bryant finished with 42 PTS/4 STL and Lamar Odom had 12 PTS/15 REB for Los Angeles. Carmelo Anthony scored 27 PTS and Nenê had 16 PTS/11 REB for the Nuggets.

January 2, 1997: Philadelphia rookie Allen Iverson with a putback slam off a missed free throw. Iverson scored 20 PTS and Derrick Coleman had 22 PTS/20 REB for the 76ers. Seattle's Shawn Kemp had 23 PTS/12 REB and Gary Payton added 21 PTS/10 AST in the SuperSonics' 96-82 win.

January 2, 1993: Minnesota's Doug West with a two-handed and-1 slam against Dallas. West scored 15 PTS (7-11 FG) and Christian Laettner had 26 PTS/6 REB/3 BLK in the Timberwolves' 103-71 win. Walter Bond led the Mavericks with 16 PTS/8 REB/5 AST. 📺 NBA Action

January 2, 2004: Golden State's Jason Richardson elevates for a two-hand putback slam. Richardson scored 25 PTS (10-17 FG) but the Warriors lost at Washington, 97-79. Jarvis Hayes scored a team-high 20 PTS off the bench for the Wizards.

January 2, 1997: Shawn Kemp finishes the Seattle break with a two-handed slam dunk. Kemp had 23 PTS/12 REB/2 BLK, Gary Payton had 21 PTS/10 AST/8 REB/4 STL and Hersey Hawkins added 21 PTS in the SuperSonics’ 96-82 win. Derrick Coleman finished with 22 PTS/20 REB for the 76ers.

On this, the first day of January, 2026, we recognize the 57-year anniversary of the Celtics’ Jim Barnes getting thrown 50 feet into a fence by a jet engine blast. Barnes would miss the next nine games. January 1, 1969.

My annual New Year’s Eve reminder to be safe tonight, featuring Bullets guard Ledell Eackles, who burned his shooting hand with a Roman candle on December 31, 1991 and was forced to miss Washington’s next practice (📸 Sports Illustrated):

December 31, 2005: This slam dunk from Denver's Kenyon Martin. Martin had 11 PTS/12 REB and teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 25 PTS, but San Antonio beat the Nuggets, 98-88. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 25 PTS/10 REB. Manu Ginóbili had 20 PTS/4 STL off the bench. 📺 NBA Action

December 30, 1980: This breakaway dunk from Billy Ray Bates of the Portland Trail Blazers.

December 30, 1986: Detroit’s Adrian Dantley scores 25 PTS and Sidney Green finishes with 15 PTS/23 REB in the Pistons’ 103-99 win at Milwaukee. Terry Cummings had 24 PTS/11 REB and Paul Pressey added 20 PTS/13 AST for the Bucks. 📺 ESPN

December 30, 1985: Indiana's Herb Williams finished with 38 PTS/12 REB/3 BLK and Steve Stipanovich added 16 PTS/14 REB in the Pacers' 97-80 win over the Bullets in Landover. Cliff Robinson led Washington with 27 PTS/12 REB. Jeff Malone scored 16 PTS.

December 30, 1992: Detroit’s creative press break vs. Washington: Joe Dumars to Isiah Thomas to Dennis Rodman to Orlando Woolridge. Dumars 36 PTS/7 AST Thomas 14 PTS/11 AST Rodman 10 PTS/23 REB Woolridge 29 PTS Bill Laimbeer 20 PTS Pistons 118, Bullets 110. 📺 ESPN/NBA Action

December 30, 1985: Denver's Alex English finishes with 42 PTS (17-33 FG)/10 REB/6 AST/3 STL in a 125-122 win over Houston. Danny Schayes added 21 PTS off the Nuggets bench. Akeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 24 PTS and teammate Ralph Sampson added 19 PTS/13 REB.

December 30, 1997: Cleveland's Shawn Kemp drives baseline and dunks on Alonzo Mourning. Kemp had team-highs of 15 PTS/10 REB but the Cavaliers lost to Miami, 90-78. Tim Hardaway scored a game-high 29 PTS for the Heat, who improved to 20-9.

December 30, 1980: Portland's Billy Ray Bates beats the Sixers at the buzzer (off the inbound lob pass from Kermit Washington). Bates finished with 6 PTS off the bench and Mychal Thompson had 25 PTS/10 REB/6 AST for the Trail Blazers in the 109-108 victory over Philadelphia.

December 30, 1993: Minnesota rookie Isaiah Rider dunks on Hakeem Olajuwon. Rider finished with 30 PTS/12 REB but the Rockets defeated the Timberwolves, 110-104. Olajuwon had 34 PTS/10 REB/8 BLK/5 AST/5 STL and Otis Thorpe added 20 PTS/17 REB in Houston's 110-104 win. 📺 ESPN

December 30, 2001: Orlando's Tracy McGrady dunks on Othella Harrington of the Knicks. McGrady finished with 29 PTS/11 REB in a 94-90 Magic win. Latrell Sprewell had 28 PTS/7 REB for New York.

December 30, 1988: Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins scores 29 PTS and Moses Malone finishes with 25 PTS in the Hawks’ 117-113 win at Milwaukee. For the Bucks, Jack Sikma scored 30 PTS (11-15 FG) and Terry Cummings added 26 PTS. 📺 WSB-TV

December 30, 1990: Orlando's Scott Skiles finishes with 22 PTS and an NBA record 30 assists in a 155-116 win over the Nuggets. Jerry Reynolds scored 27 PTS and Terry Catledge added 25 PTS/11 REB for the Magic (7-23). Michael Adams scored 26 PTS and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf added 21 PTS for Denver (6-23).

December 30, 1999: Toronto's Vince Carter with a two-hand 360 slam in transition. Carter finished with 22 PTS/8 AST and Tracy McGrady had 24 PTS/11 REB in the Raptors' 109-104 win at Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 32 PTS for the Mavericks.

December 30, 1980: Darryl Dawkins and Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers "jumpin' out of the gym" against the Blazers in Portland. Erving finished with 26 PTS/2 BLK and Dawkins had 22 PTS/3 BLK. These are just their FIRST QUARTER highlights:

December 29, 1993: According to ESPN, Shawn Kemp "suffered a mild concussion and bruises on his jaw" during Seattle's third quarter scuffle with the Lakers. Kemp stayed in the game and scored 12 of his 25 PTS in the fourth quarter of the Sonics' 99-92 win (including this slam):