NORTH AMERICAN COMMITTEE FINALISTS
VICTOR BUBAS - Contributor (Finalist in 2003), the 1996 recipient of the prestigious John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, began a lifelong love affair with basketball in his hometown of Gary, Indiana before attending North Carolina State University where he played for, and coached alongside, Hall of Famer Everett Case. As a player, Bubas helped NC State reach the NCAA Final Four in 1950. Bubas then landed the head coaching position at Duke University in 1959 where he led the Blue Devils to three NCAA Final Fours (1963, 1964, 1966) and four ACC championships (1960, 1963, 1964, 1966). His strong work ethic and vision helped put Duke on the national map in basketball and made Bubas the second winningest coach in the 1960s behind Hall of Famer John Wooden. As the Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference from 1976-1990, Bubas played a key role in the NCAA's adoption of the both the three-point line and the 45-second shot clock.
ADRIAN DANTLEY - Player (Finalist in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007), a native of Washington, D.C., was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. He had a stellar 15-year NBA career with seven different teams (Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Maverick and Milwaukee Bucks), the majority of the time spent with the Jazz (1979-86). At all levels, Dantley enjoyed success - as a scholastic All-America player at DeMatha Catholic High School (Md.), as a collegian at Notre Dame (1973-76), as the leading scorer (19.3 ppg) of the gold medal 1976 Olympic team and as a professional where he was Rookie of the Year in 1977. His 23,177 career points still ranks 23rd all-time in the NBA. He scored 2,223 points in three seasons (25.8) at Notre Dame, ranks second in Irish career scoring and was a unanimous First Team All-America list in 1975 and 1976. In all but four seasons as a professional, Dantley averaged 20 points or better, including topping the 30-point mark four straight years (1981-84). The six-time NBA All-Star (1980-82, 1984-86) was named NBA Comeback Player of the Year in 1984, the year he led the league in scoring (30.6).
WILLIAM (Bill) DAVIDSON - Contributor (Finalist in 2007), 85, is a lifelong Michigan resident born in Detroit, where he has created both NBA and WNBA dynasties. An owner of the Pistons since 1974 and the WNBA Shock since 1998, Davidson's Pistons have captured three NBA crowns to go along with two WNBA titles for the Shock. Davidson has served as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors, and has been an innovative business leader in the sports industry - building the revolutionary Palace of Auburn Hills, playing an integral role in structuring modern NBA salary cap and free agency standards, and even owning the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and capturing a Stanley Cup. His Pistons have featured several Hall of Famers, including Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Chuck Daly and Larry Brown.
PATRICK EWING - Player, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner (1984, 1992) and a three-time consensus First Team All-America (1983, 1984, 1985), led Georgetown University to three appearances in the NCAA Final Four and the 1984 national championship earning Most Outstanding Player recognition for his efforts. The 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year landed a spot on 11 NBA All Star rosters including ten in a row from 1998 to 1997. A member of the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, Ewing scored 24,815 points during his 17-year NBA career to go along with 11,607 rebounds. Named Parade Magazine's National High School Player of the Year in 1981, Ewing remains the New York Knicks, all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and field goals made.
DENNIS JOHNSON - Player (Finalist in 1999, 2003, 2005), was one of basketball's toughest defenders earning nine consecutive NBA All-Defensive team honors during his 14-year pro career, including six spots on the All-Defensive First Team. A member of three NBA championship teams, Johnson led the Seattle Supersonics to the 1979 NBA title and was named Finals Most Valuable Player. He was an unheralded player coming out of high school and college, but left his mark on the NBA as a five-time All Star (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985) and one of the game's great clutch performers.
CHRIS MULLIN - Player (Finalist in 2007), a McDonald's High School All-America from Brooklyn, NY, was a five-time NBA All-Star and collegiate standout at St. John's, where he was named Big East Player of the Year an unprecedented three times. A two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1992), Mullin played 16 NBA seasons for Golden State and Indiana, amassing 17,911 points while averaging more than 20 ppg for six consecutive seasons. He is one of only 17 players in NBA history to compile 17,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists, and was an NBA First Team pick in 1992. He is the all time scoring leader at St. John's (2,440), where he was named the Wooden Award winner and The Sporting News First Team All-America in 1985.
DON NELSON - Coach (Finalist in 2006), is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year (1983, 1985, 1992) and currently ranks second on the all-time wins list in NBA history behind Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens. Nelson is one of the modern game's great innovators with his small-ball offense, his eye for international talent and his ability to reinvent preconceived notions about positions on the basketball court. He led the Golden State Warriors to a 4-2 game upset of the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the first time a #8 seed defeated a #1 seed in a seven-game series. In 1996, Nelson was named to the NBA's Ten Best Coaches of All-Time list and has served his country as the head coach of the 1994 U.S. men's national team that won the gold medal at the World Championships.
HAKEEM OLAJUWON - Player, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, spent the lion's share of his basketball career in Houston, Texas where he led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and the University of Houston to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1982 to 1984. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Olajuwon still holds the NBA record for blocked shots (3,830) and is the only player to record more than 3,000 blocked shots and 2,000 steals in a career. Olajuwon was also a five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, a six-time All-NBA First Team performer, and the 1994 NBA MVP. He recorded 26,946 points and 13,748 rebounds in 18 NBA seasons, good for ninth and fourteenth respectively on the all-time NBA leader board.
PAT RILEY - Coach, has experienced success at all levels and in all realms of the game. A player on the 1966 University of Kentucky Final Four team, Riley has left his biggest mark on the game in coaching. Riley is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year and currently ranks third on the all-time wins list in NBA history behind Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and fellow finalist Don Nelson. His greatest achievements have come in the form of five NBA championships, including four as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and a fifth patrolling the sidelines for the Miami Heat in 2005. He is a member of the NBA's Ten Best Coaches of All-Time and is the only coach in history to win NBA Coach of the Year honors with three different teams.
DICK VITALE - Contributor (Finalist in 2004, 2006), a native of Passaic, NJ, has been synonymous withcollegebasketball for more than 20 years as the lead color announcer for ESPN. A successful coach at the high school (East Rutherford), collegiate (University of Detroit) and professional (Detroit Pistons) levels, Vitale began his broadcasting career with ESPN in 1979 and has helped make the network an integral part ofcollegebasketball's popularity. His enthusiastic, upbeat style has resulted in a lexicon of now-familiar phrases as "Get a TO," "Awesome, Baby," and "PTP-er." An author of six books chronicling his love affair with basketball, Vitale was recipient of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy electronic media award (1988) and won the NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award in 2000.
WOMEN'S COMMITTEE FINALIST
CATHY RUSH - Coach (Finalist in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005), a pioneer in women's basketball and an advocate for women's sports, led Immaculata University to three consecutive AIAW national championships from 1972 to 1974. Rush propelled Immaculata, and women's basketball, into the national spotlight when the Mighty Macs appeared on national television in 1975, a first for women's basketball. Rush won 149 games in only seven season and lost only 15, good for a .908 winning percentage. She made six consecutive appearances in the AIAW Final Four (1972-1977) and for her accomplishments was enshrined into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FINALISTS
TOGO SOARES - Coach, is widely considered the greatest coach in South American basketball history. He coached the Brazilian national team from 1951 to 1971 and led Brazil to five medals in the World Championships including two gold (1959, 1963), two silver (1954, 1970) and one bronze (1967). Soares also managed a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games as well as silver and bronze medals at the 1963 and 1959 Pan-Am Games respectively. His club record included leading teams to five South American championships (1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1971).
MACIEL UBIRATAN PEREIRA - Player, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is widely considered one of the greatest players in South American basketball history. A member of three Brazilian Olympic teams, Ubiratan led his countrymen to the bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic Games. He was a relentless competitor and all-around player who only cared about winning and filling whatever need for any of his teams. Ubiratan also earned five South American championships (1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1977) and eleven titles in Paulista League of Brazil.
VETERAN'S COMMITTEE FINALIST
RICHARD GUERIN - Player (Finalist in 2007), was a six-time NBA All Star (1958-1963) and scored 14,676 points, 4,278 rebounds and 4,211 assists during a pro career with the Knicks (1956-63), St. Louis Hawks (1963-67) and Atlanta Hawks (1968-70). Guerin was the first Knick to score 2,000 points in a single season, and averaged 20.1 ppg as a member of the Knicks. Born in Bronx, NY, Guerin played at Iona College, where as a senior he averaged 24.7 ppg and was named an All-America. Guerin was also a player/coach for both the St. Louis and Atlanta Hawks, compiling a 327-291 record while being named NBA Coach of the Year in 1968.
JOHNNY "RED" KERR - Contributor (Finalist in 2004, 2005, 2006), a native of Chicago, IL, has dedicated more than 60 years of his life to the game of basketball as a player, coach, executive, and broadcaster. A three-time NBA All Star (1956, 1959, 1963) and a member of the 1955 NBA champion Syracuse Nationals, Kerr was one of basketball's most durable players appearing in a then-record 844 consecutive games. The 1967 NBA Coach of the Year is the only coach in NBA history to lead an expansion to the playoffs in the franchise's first season. He is the author of Bull Session and served as the Business Manager for the Chicago Bulls from 1973-1975. Kerr has served as color commentator for the Chicago Bulls since 1975.
2008 Hall of Fame class, who gets in and who doesn't?tickets
i like a woman who knows her basketball
2008 Hall of Fame class, who gets in and who doesn't?nba ,nba teams
What about DON nelson anwser people Report It
no Report It
In the 2008 Class, this is the list of priorities
1. Dennis Rodman - Possibly the greatest rebounder and defensive forward
2. Dennis Johnson - One of the most phenomenal defensive guards
3. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton - Famous Harlem Globetrotter and NBA legend
I know that during the 1997 Allstar weekend, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon were selected as part of the top 50 ever to play in the league, they are ensured to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
But you are right, there are many great contributors to the game of basketball, who are underrated and forgotten by the Hall of Fame commitee. For example, Dennis Rodman, arguably the greatest defensive forward to ever in the NBA, who will not be in the Hall of Fame anytime soon, since David Stern did not like his personality. But his teammates and fans will always respect him.
i'm gonna say that Ewing, Olajuwan, Riles, Dickey V, Chris Mullen, Dennis Johnson, and Johnny red Kerr, get in
but i'm not real sure about Adrian Dantley.
man you know about b-ball and your cute!
No comments:
Post a Comment