Springfield – Former National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, along with former women’s star Sue Bird, highlighted a decorated group inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Women’s stars Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, head coach Billy Donovan, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, referee Danny Crawford and the 2008 United States Olympic men’s team also were inducted.
Anthony and Howard were members of the 2008 US Olympic team.
The class was announced in April at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four in San Antonio.
Anthony ranks 10th in NBA history with 28,289 career points and was a 10-time All-Star. He won three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016), led Syracuse University to the 2003 NCAA title and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021.
“Pardon my language, but damn,” an emotional Anthony said during his induction speech.
“Tonight, I just don’t step into the Hall of Fame, I carry the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t... I had to build a new road. I had to write a new ending.”
Howard, who was elected as a first-ballot member, was a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2009 to 2011) and eight-time All-Star. He ranks 10th in NBA history with 14,627 career rebounds and 13th with 2,228 blocked shots.
“My mother lost seven children (in miscarriages), and He allowed me to bring sunshine into her life,” Howard said.
“I’m just honoured to stand in front of you as one of the greatest basketball players ever.”
Bird won five Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020), four Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) titles and two college crowns at the University of Connecticut. She was a 13-time WNBA All-Star and holds the league’s career assists record of 3,234.
Donovan coaches the Chicago Bulls after previously leading the Oklahoma City Thunder and has 434 regular-season victories. He also led Florida to back-to-back NCAA titles (2006, 2007) while accumulating 502 college wins.
The 2008 US Olympic team went 8-0 while winning the gold medal and prevailed by an average of 27.9 points. The co-captains were Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade, while other members included LeBron James, Chris Paul as well as Anthony and Howard.
“It was a beautiful thing to watch Kobe and LeBron battle in practice,” Kidd said. “Every morning they would battle. They had high energy. They set the tone.”
Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and won two NCAA titles at the University of Connecticut and picked up two Olympic gold medals.
“Figure out what motivates you every day you get out of bed,” said Moore, who has focused on social justice issues since retiring before the 2019 season. “I want to challenge you up-and-comers, every day to seek out joy and connection.”
Fowles won four Olympic gold medals, retired as the WNBA’s leading rebounder (4,006) before being passed and was an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion.
Arison has owned the Miami Heat since 1995 and presided over three titles (2006, 2012, 2013).
Crawford was an NBA referee from 1985-2017 and officiated in over 2,000 regular-season games and 300 play-off games, including the NBA Finals in 23 consecutive seasons.
Crawford joked that “NBA referees don’t usually end up in places like this. We’re more used to boos than applause, but added, “That’s why this recognition means so much.” REUTERS, AFP
Basketball playersNBALeBron JamesKobe Bryant