The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, inducted its Class of 2024 on Sunday. The entrance ceremony was originally scheduled for August 17, but was moved to October due to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Headlined by Vince Carter, we introduce the 13 inductees to the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame, representing longtime college and high school coaches, as well as NBA and WNBA star players.
Vince Carter: Known for his spectacular dunks, Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and 1999 Rookie of the Year in 22 seasons. He played for eight NBA teams during his career and is the only player to play for 40 years.
“Thank you for this incredible honor. I highly value this honor,” Carter said in his acceptance speech. “I have finally been able to endure that you have bestowed upon me an honor that many players will not experience. I am now walking through the door that the icon of the game passed through. .”
Michelle Timms: This year’s International Committee Hall of Fame inductee, Timms won two Olympic gold medals for Australia in 1996 and 2000. She played internationally with Lotus Munich in Germany and five seasons with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Tims is also in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Chaucey Billups: Billups won the 2004 NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons and earned Finals MVP honors. He played for seven of the NBA’s 17 seasons and was named an All-Star five times. He is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Detroit was an NBA champion, known as a winner, and that’s all I ever wanted,” Billups said, wearing sunglasses from the city’s favorite Buffs. “It was in Detroit that I became known as a winner. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Michael Cooper: A five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cooper was also named to eight All-Defensive teams. As a coach, he won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks from 2001 to 2002 and was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2000.
Walter Davis: A six-time All-Star in 15 NBA seasons, Davis is the Phoenix Suns’ all-time leading scorer. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Games and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1978.
Harley Reddin: This year’s Women’s Veterans Committee Hall of Fame inductee, Reddin went 431-66 (including two undefeated seasons) in 18 seasons at Wayland Baptist University and won six AAU national championships. won twice. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Naismith Award for outstanding contributions to women’s basketball in 2000.
Dick Barnett: This year’s Men’s Veterans Committee Hall of Fame inductee, Barnett won three consecutive NAIA national championships at Tennessee A&I University and became the first black school to win a men’s basketball championship. He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was named an All-Star in 1968.
Bo Ryan: Inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, Ryan won 747 games and three Division III championships in 32 seasons as a head coach. At Wisconsin, he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times, won four regular season titles, three conference tournament titles, and reached the Final Four twice.
Seimone Augustus: This year’s Women’s Committee Hall of Fame inductee, Augustus was selected No. 1 overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx and was the 2006 Rookie of the Year. He played 15 seasons in the league. At LSU, he played in the Final Four three times and won the Naismith Trophy and the Wood Trophy.
“Act one is over, and for me, act two is just beginning. And if we do it well, we might be back here another night.” Augustus saidhinted at her role as an assistant coach at LSU.
Jerry West: West is the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as an athlete (class of 1980) and Olympian (2010) and now as a contributor. As a manager, he won eight NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the Golden State Warriors.
Charles Smith: At Peabody Magnet High School, Smith won nine state championships and is the winningest head coach in Louisiana. His teams went 41-0 twice (2004 and 2010). He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
Doug Collins: As a player, Collins was an All-Star in four of his eight NBA seasons. As a coach, he won 442 games with four teams. But to many basketball fans, Collins may be best known as a television analyst for CBS, NBC, TNT, and ESPN.
Herb Simon: Simon has owned the Indiana Pacers since 1983, making him the longest-serving team owner in NBA history. He is also co-owner of Indiana Fever with his nephew David. The Pacers reached the NBA Playoffs 27 times during Simon’s tenure, including an appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals.
“This is not the recognition I expected, but I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award.” – Herb Simon #24 Hoop class
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophhall) October 13, 2024
“This is not the kind of recognition I expected,” Simon said in a speech. “But I am very honored and humbled to receive it.”
