What Happened in Sports: June 28, 2022

2020: When the New England Patriots signed former NFL MVP QB Cam Newton to replace future HOF Tom Brady after TB12 signed with the Buccaneers to conclude a 20-year run in Foxborough, the Pats became the only team to lose a former MVP and add a different former MVP in the same offseason

2012: New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans 1 year later) selected PF Anthony Davis with the 1st overall pick. SG Bradley Beal (#3), PG Damian Lillard (#6), C Andre Drummond (#9), PF Draymond Green (#35), and SF Khris Middleton (#39) were also drafted

2009: New York Yankees CP Mariano Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman as the only 2 pitchers to record 500 career Saves in MLB history. Rivera would go on to surpass Hoffman as the all-time Saves leader (652) before becoming the only unanimous (100% vote) HOFer ever

2007: During the 2007 NBA Draft, Texas SF Kevin Durant fell to the Seattle SuperSonics at #2 overall after Portland selected Ohio State C Greg Oden with the 1st pick. Oden notoriously didn’t play much after knee injuries while Durant became arguably the greatest player in Sonics/Thunder history

2007: On draft night, Boston Celtics acquired HOF SG Ray Allen and a 2nd round pick (Glen Davis) from the SuperSonics in exchange for PG Delonte West, SF Wally Szczerbiak, and the #5 overall pick (Jeff Green). Boston landed PF Kevin Garnett in a separate trade about a month later to ignite the 1st NBA ‘Big 3’ era  

2006: Portland Trail Blazers selected Texas PF LaMarcus Aldridge with the 2nd overall pick and landed SG Brandon Roy at #6). Others included SF Rudy Gay (#8), SG JJ Redick (#11), PG Rajon Rondo (#21), PG Kyle Lowry (#24), SF PJ Tucker (#35), and PF Paul Millsap (#47)

2005: New York Knicks made Larry Brown the highest-paid HC in the NBA, signing him to a 5-year, $50 million contract. He would be fired less than a year later

2005: New Orleans Hornets selected Wake Forest PG Chris Paul with the 4th overall pick. Other key picks were PG Deron Williams (#3), C Andrew Bynum (#10), SF Danny Granger (#17), SG Monta Ellis (#40), and PG Lou Williams (#45)

1986: SPs Phil Niekro (Indians) and Don Sutton (Angels) both started for their respective teams, marking the 1st time in the 20th century two pitchers with 300+ career wins faced each other

1973: The National Black Sports Hall of Fame officially formed and inducted its initial 38 members, including Willie Mays, Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jim Brown, Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente, among many others