It’s time for a special time of year. The weather is getting chilly out, football is back, and now the NBA Hall of Fame is upon us. Let’s see what got each member here.
Tonight is the long awaited NBA Hall of Fame induction. Will we see some tears? I sure hope so because we could all use a new meme. The action will be taking place up in Springfield, MA and in case you weren’t able to get tickets, you can surely watch on NBA TV at 8 pm EST.
This class is special, as is every class. There are 11 members-Tracy McGrady, Bill Self, Rebecca Lobo, Muffet McGraw, Nikos Galis, George McGinnis, Robert Hughes, Jerry Krause, Zack Clayton, Tom Jernstedt, and Mannie Jackson.
It’s without a doubt that Tracy McGrady stands out from his class and McGrady was loved by many. It is unfortunate that he never got the opportunity to get a ring but nonetheless-he’s impressed us with his seven-time NBA All Star selection as well as two-time NBA scoring champion.
Bill Self is a household name amongst those that are obsessed with college basketball. He led Kansas to 14 straight NCAA tournament appearances. I expect some tears from him this evening.
Rebecca Lobo is a pioneer in women’s sports and her contribution to the league is one that will never go unnoticed. She led the Huskies to their very first championship back in 1995 and not to mention her gold medal. Her speech is one that you should not miss.
Muffet McGraw currently holds the prestigious title of being Notre Dame’s head women’s coach and has been there for an astounding 27 seasons. A little over a year ago, she got her 800th win as a coach. Tonight, she is claiming her spot amongst basketball’s best.
Nikos Galis, although born in America, he is considered the greatest basketball player in Greek history and made a name for himself in Europe. He was voted Greek’s best player in both 1986 and 1987.
George McGinnis spent 11 seasons playing in the league, between both the ABA and NBA. He is a two-time ABA champion with the Pacers (1972 and 1973).
Robert Hughes is getting recognition for developing our young players and has made an impact in high school basketball. He holds the fantastic title of all time winningest high school basketball coach, 1,333-247. Yeah, nobody is ever reaching that. You can expect him to perhaps talk about how important it is to mentor kids at that age instead of waiting later in life.
Jerry Krause is a name that many know, specifically those NBA fans that remember the late 1980’s and the 1990’s era of basketball. He was the GM and Executive VP of the Bulls from 1985-2003. At this point, you should know what he won.
Zack Clayton played ball in a different era. He is listed as the all-time greatest player of the Black Fives Era. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Basketball Hall of Fame; a true pioneer for African American players. It’s been 20 years since he’s passed.
Tom Jernstedt has been down this road, in terms of hall of fames. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He dedicated a lot of time to the NCAA as he spent 38 years with them (1972-2010). You can imagine the stories he has to share.
Mannie Jackson’s contribution to basketball is special. He not only player for the Harlem Globetrotters back in the 1960’s but he also owns them, which made him the first African American who controlled the ownership within an entertainment organization as well as international sports.
Who will you be looking forward to seeing this evening?
