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Most Significant Sports History on November 22nd
Learn about November 22nd's most significant sports history including the lowest-scoring NBA game, Kellen Winslow's 5 REC TDs, and more!
Los Angeles Lakers
A sad and somber day in the history of the United States, the 22nd of November will forever be remembered for the tragedy that unfolded in Dallas, Texas in 1963. Aside from the assassination of the nation’s leader, the early NBA’s scoring crisis reached a peak on this day with a game that didn’t even break 40 total points. The inaugural AFL Draft also took place on their newest franchise’s birthday, while the unveiling of the NFL 100 list officially began a year ago. Add in Kellen Winslow Sr.’s record-tying performances against a hated divisional rival and 11/22 has a stacked list of significant sports history.
37 points. The Fort Wayne Pistons defeated the Minneapolis Lakers 19-18 on Nov. 22, 1950 https://t.co/N87KT7fEM2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 30, 2020
YEAR: 1950
SIGNIFICANCE: Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers combined for the lowest-scoring game in NBA history
This day 70 years ago quite clearly acted as the largest motivator for the NBA to implement a 24-second shot clock for each team’s possession. The Fort Wayne Pistons and defending champion Minneapolis Lakers, led by powerhouse George Mikan, went on to combine for the least number of combined points in NBA history.
It was a close game in the least entertaining way as Fort Wayne was instructed to hold onto possession for minutes at a time to neutralize Mikan, with the final score resulting in an ugly 19-18 Pistons victory. There was uproar from basketball fans following the game, and while the creation of the shot clock didn’t occur until four years later, this game surely was the catalyst to implement such a change.
Two days after JFK was assassinated on this day in 1963, the NFL played on pic.twitter.com/MXs7b2thtD
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 22, 2015
YEAR: 1963
SIGNIFICANCE: Nearly all sporting events were canceled following the assassination of JFK except the NFL
In the wake of President John F. Kennedy’s horrific assassination in Dallas, Texas the entire sports world seemingly came to a screeching halt with all games being postponed (except in the National Football League). The public’s backlash toward the NFL exposed the late commissioner Pete Rozelle for being insensitive to the situation. In fact, he would later note he regretted not canceling games, however, he didn’t fall in line with college football or the American Football League as NFL games proceeded as scheduled after the tragic killing of the country’s 35th Commander in Chief.
Two weeks after JFK’s assassination, the college football Army-Navy game was played out of pure respect and pride for the fallen President and the country he was sworn in to protect. The game carried a great amount of weight as emotions spilled out onto the field with the contest symbolizing the country’s resilience in a time of great sorrow.
1981 TE Kellen Winslow ties an @NFL record #Onthisday with 5 TD catches in the @Chargers victory over @RAIDERS pic.twitter.com/m1spbWoXpm
— #OnThisDay (@Iain_McDougall) November 22, 2015
YEAR: 1981
SIGNIFICANCE: Kellen Winslow tied an NFL record with 5 receiving TDs
A first-round selection by the Chargers in 1979, Kellen Winslow played just seven games as a rookie and caught only 25 passes for 255 yards and two TDs. In his second and third NFL seasons, however, he would lead the league in receptions (89 & 88, a TE record) while also setting a positional record with 1,290 receiving yards in 1980. A great beneficiary from San Diego’s “Air Coryell” system, Winslow’s utilization was revolutionary in that he would be sent in motion or even line up out wide to create mismatches on smaller or slower defenders.
The next year, before his legendary performance in the AFC Divisional round known as the “Epic in Miami”, the future Hall of Famer ripped the Raiders’ secondary to shreds in a 55-21 victory. After catching two TD passes late in the second quarter, he would total 144 yards on 13 catches, five of which reached the end zone to tie an NFL record. Accounting for half of his season total, this record performance helped Winslow reach a career high in TD receptions — the only season he reached double digits (10).
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: NFL began their Top-100 list AND James Harden hit a clutch 4-pt play but Kawhi Leonard nailed the GW-FG
Exactly one year ago today, the first batch of players to be included on the NFL 100’s All-Time Team was unveiled on NFL Network. Beginning on this day, the panel of Rich Eisen, Cris Collinsworth, and Bill Belichick would reveal a position group every Friday night for six weeks, which lined up the final reveal with the end of the regular season. The subject of much discussion throughout the revealings, the NFL 100 team was selected by a 26-person panel consisting of coaches, players, front office personnel, media members, and other league representatives.
One of the most memorable moments of the day, however, came in the NBA, where James Harden converted this ridiculous four-point play to take a five-point lead with under 2:00 to go. Led by Lou Williams, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George, the Clippers managed to pull back to take a one-point lead when Kawhi nailed a go-ahead step back jumper with just 15 seconds to go. Russell Westbrook then missed a potential go-ahead three and George was fouled on the rebound, capping off the crunch time basket-trading.
🚨 THE CLUTCH GO-AHEAD JUMPER FROM KAWHI! 🚨#OneMission 119#ClipperNation 122
— NBA (@NBA) November 23, 2019
1.2 left on ESPN. HOU ball. pic.twitter.com/8HCTUpntq7
Did you know that the first AFL draft was held in Minneapolis in 1959? That year the Mpls-St. Paul team selected HOFer Jim Otto. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/HIGOlR9qCs
— DigitalSportsArchive (@ZBSportsArchive) April 28, 2017
YEAR: 1959
SIGNIFICANCE: The AFL held its inaugural amateur draft AND announced the Boston Patriots as its 8th franchise
Before the upstart American Football League could begin play in 1960, the league needed an influx of young players to flesh out the eight rosters that consisted mainly of NFL castoffs and longtime veterans nearing retirement. On this date the year before, the inaugural AFL draft was held in Minneapolis, where the New York Titans held the very first number one pick (QB George Izo). Unlike the modern seven-round drafts, this one lasted 33 rounds and was followed up with an additional 20-round draft just a few weeks later on December 2nd.
Also occurring on that day was the official chartering of the eighth AFL franchise — the Boston Patriots. The exact date has alternated between November 16th, 18th, 22nd, and 23rd, but it was at the meetings on this date where the other AFL owners agreed to admit the Boston franchise. Because the agreement was in place on the 22nd, Boston was able to participate in the inaugural draft, where they selected HOF OT Ron Mix from USC. Other notable selections include HOF C Jim Otto (selected by Minnesota, rights transferred to Oakland when the former left for the NFL), HOF DB Johnny Robinson, and Heisman-winner RB Billy Cannon.
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