The greatest NBA moments on Martin Luther King Day

Certain days on the NBA calendar stand out more than others, with games played on Martin Luther King Day being one of them. The league schedules contests all throughout the holiday, and commemorates the civil rights leader in the process. We’ll take a look back at the best NBA moments that took place on Martin Luther King day in league history.

NBA fans today know that 0.1 seconds isn’t enough to catch and shoot, but that wasn’t the case in 1990. The New York Knicks found themselves down to the Chicago Bulls with that much time left. Tucker heaved a jumper that went in at the buzzer and counted, giving New York the win. A rule was implemented shortly thereafter stating that at least 0.3 seconds is needed to catch and shoot.

During Martin Luther King Day in 2001, tempers flared between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Knicks center Marcus Camby lashed out at Spurs forward Danny Ferry with a punch, but there was one problem. The blow struck Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy instead of Ferry, and the former needed medical attention after his eye was swollen and he needed stitches.

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Damian Lillard is looking to win his first championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, but had a bunch of special moments with the Portland Trail Blazers. One of those came on Martin Luther King Day in 2020, when the point guard scored 61 points against the Golden State Warriors. It remains the most points scored on the holiday.

There was lingering beef between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal after the latter was traded away from Los Angeles. O’Neal was instructed by NBA legend Bill Russell to extend an olive branch to Bryant during Martin Luther King Day in 2006 to help mend their relationship. Bryant was accepting of the gesture, which made for a happy ending to the multi-year drama.

Blake Griffin was an integral member of the “Lob City” era of Los Angeles Clippers basketball in the 2010’s. He threw it down on anyone and everyone in his way, including former New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. Griffin had a vicious slam over the former Kim Kardashian love interest in 2012 on Martin Luther King Day.

Nowitzki was one of the most challenging players to guard in NBA history, as the Philadelphia 76ers could attest back in 2009. The forward nailed a fadeaway jumper against them on Martin Luther King day at the buzzer. The frustrating thing for 76ers fans was that Reggie Evans played excellent defense, but Nowitzki got the tough shot to drop.

There are few players in New York Knicks history who are more beloved than Patrick Ewing. The center etched his name in the team record books on Martin Luther King Day in 1994, which allowed him to reach the 15,000 point mark for the franchise. No player in Knicks history had previously made it to that threshold.

There’s something special about the level of attention the NBA pays to the achievements of Dr. King. Throughout the games on that day, segments including players, coaches and executives are run communicating the impact Martin Luther King’s legacy had on them, and on the United States.