NBA 70 for 70: Facts from March throughout league history

As the NBA celebrates its 70th anniversary, we go back in time to look at some facts from February throughout the history of the league, as well as some that have taken place during the 2015-16 season.

The facts are broken down into four categories: single-game performances, statistical milestones, miscellaneous facts, and birthdays.

(Facts from 2015-16 season in italics)

Single-game performances

1. Shaquille O'Neal records a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds on his 28th birthday. (March 6, 2000)

2. John Drew of the Atlanta Hawks commits 14 turnovers in a single game, which was an NBA record at the time. (March 1, 1978)

3. DeMar DeRozan sets an NBA record by knocking down 24 consecutive free throws in a game. (March 4, 2016)

4. Tracy McGrady scores a career-high 62 points for the Orlando Magic. (March 10, 2004)

5. Fat Lever records eight steals in one quarter, an NBA record. (March 9, 1985)

6. Scottie Pippen and Pete Myers become the first duo in NBA history to each convert a four-point play in the same game. (March 8, 1994)

7. Hakeem Olajuwon becomes the third player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double, with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 blocks, just a few weeks after falling one assist shy of the same feat. (March 29, 1990)

8. Michael Jordan scores a career-high 69 points. (March 28, 1990)

​9. Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in a single game, the most in NBA history. (March 2, 1962)

10. Bill Russell grabs 40 rebounds, setting an NBA Finals record which was eventually broken by Wilt Chamberlain. (March 29, 1960)

11. The Miami Heat make 67.5% of their shots, a franchise record. (March 1, 2016)

12. The Dallas Mavericks set an NBA record for three-point attempts in a single game with 49. (March 5, 1996)

13. Bill Russell pulls down 49 rebounds in a single game, the third most of all-time (March 11, 1965)

14. The Toronto Raptors set an NBA record for total blocks in a game (23), led by Keon Clark with 12. (March 23, 2001)

Statistical milestones

15. John Stockton becomes the first player in league history to record 2,500 steals, a feat that only two others players (Michael Jordan and Jason Kidd) have accomplished since. (March 19, 1997)

16. Maurice Cheeks becomes the fifth guard in NBA history to record 7,000 career assists. There are now 15 players with that many. (March 19, 1991)

17. Dominique Wilkins becomes the ninth player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points. He is one of 20 players with that many. (March 7, 1995)

18. Reggie Miller knocks down his 2,000th career three-pointer, becoming the first player in NBA history to do so. (March 18, 2001)

19. Dale Ellis becomes the first player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers made. He finished his career with 1,719. (March 19, 1994)

20. Mark Eaton blocks his 2,000th shot. He finished his career with 3,064, the fourth most of all-time. (March 16. 1988)

21. Wilt Chamberlain completes his regular season with averages of 50.4 points, 25.7 rebounds, and 48.5 minutes. (March 14, 1962)

22. Karl Malone becomes the third player in NBA history to reach the 50,000 minute plateau, joining Elvin Hayes and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (March 19, 2002)

23. John Stockton becomes the only player in NBA history to reach 15,000 assists. (March 10, 2002)

24. Kevin Love records his 52nd straight double-double, passing the record previously held by Moses Malone for the most since the NBA/ABA merger. (March 9, 2011)

25. Tim Duncan passes John Havlicek for 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. (March 15, 2016)

26. Charles Barkley becomes the third player in NBA history to record 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists. (March 13, 1999)

27. Karl Malone passes Moses Malone on the NBA's all-time free throws made list. He finished his career with 9.787 makes. (March 24, 2001)

28. The Golden State Warriors break the record for total three-pointers made in a season with 934. (March 25, 2016)

29. Kristaps Porzingis becomes the only rookie in NBA history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 75 three-pointers, and 100 blocks. (March 26, 2016)

30. Nate "Tiny" Archibald becomes the only player in NBA history to lead the league in both scoring and assists in the same season. (March 24, 1973)

31. Karl Malone becomes the fifth player in NBA history to record 25,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in his career. (March 9, 1997)

32. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the NBA's all-time leader in fouls. (March 10, 1987)

33. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson become the first duo in NBA history to make 600 threes in a season. (March 27, 2016)

34. Hakeem Olajuwon becomes the third player in NBA history with 24,000 points, 12,000 rebounds, and 2,500 assists. (March 12, 1998)

35. Magic Johnson becomes the second player in NBA history to dish out 10,000 career assists. (March 7, 1996)

36. Moses Malone passes Elvin Hayes for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He is now eighth. (March 22, 1994)

37. Paul Silas becomes the third player in NBA history to record 10,000 rebounds before 10,000 points. (March 30, 1976)

38. Karl Malone passes Elvin Hayes for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. He is now second. (March 20, 1998)

39. Hakeem Olajuwon becomes the only player in NBA history to reach 3,5000 blocks. He finished his career with 3,830. (March 9, 1999)

40. LeBron James passes Dominique Wilkins for 12th on the all-time scoring list. (March 31, 2016)

41. John Stockton becomes the first player in NBA history to reach 11,000 career assists. (March 4, 1996)

Miscellaneous facts

42. A.C. Green plays in his 1,000th consecutive game. He stretched that streak out to 1,192, earning the nickname of "the Iron Man." (March 13, 1999)

43. Magic Johnson makes his return to the NBA as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, going 5-11 in the final 16 games of the season. (March 27, 1994)

44. Pat Riley becomes the fastest coach to reach 400 victories. (March 9, 1988)

45. Lenny Wilkens becomes the NBA's all-time leader in games coached with his 2,051st game. He finished with 2,487 over 35 years. (March 17, 1999)

46. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in what was at the time the most lopsided win in NBA history, 162-99. (March 19, 1972)

47. The Los Angeles Lakers lose to the Utah Jazz by 48 points, tying the most lopsided loss in franchise history. (March 28, 2016)

48. Tristan Thompson plays in his 361st consecutive game, setting a Cleveland Cavaliers franchise record. (March 29, 2016)

49. Michael Jordan plays in his first game since announcing his retirement after Game Six of the 1993 NBA Finals. (March 19, 1995)

50. Lenny Wilkens becomes the first coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 career wins. (March 1, 1996)

51. The Philadelphia 76ers finished the season with a 9-73 record, the worst 82-game record in NBA history. (March 25, 1973)

52. The Atlanta Hawks beat the Utah Jazz in the NBA's first quadruple-overtime game in 15 years. (March 25, 2012)

53. The Chicago Bulls win the first of their 44 consecutive home game streak. (March 30, 1995)

54. The Golden State Warriors win their 45th consecutive home game. (March 7, 2016)

55. Wes Unseld becomes the second rookie in NBA history to be named MVP, joining Wilt Chamberlain. (March 24, 1969)

56. Rod Higgins becomes the first player in NBA history to play for four teams in the same season. (March 14, 1986)

Birthdays

57. Jason Kidd is born in San Francisco. (March 23, 1973)

58. Chris Webber is born in Detroit. (March 1, 1973)

59. Draymond Green is born in Saginaw, Mich. (March 4, 1990)

60. Shaquille O'Neal is born in Newark, N.J. (March 6, 1972)

61. Anthony Davis is born in Chicago. (March 11, 1993)

62. Stephen Curry is born in Akron, Ohio. (March 14, 1988)

63. Kyrie Irving is born in Melbourne, Australia. (March 23, 1992)

64. Wes Unseld is born in Louisville, Ky. (March 14, 1946)

65. Blake Griffin is born in Oklahoma City, Okla. (March 16, 1989)

66. Moses Malone is born in Petersburg, Va. (March 23, 1955)

67. Chris Bosh is born in Dallas. (March 24, 1984)

68. Kyle Lowry is born in Philadelphia. (March 25, 1986)

69. John Stockton is born in Spokane, Wash. (March 26, 1962)

70. Rick Barry is born in Elizabeth, N.J. (March 28, 1944)

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