The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, announced its induction into the 2024 class on Sunday. The induction ceremony was originally scheduled for August 17, but was postponed to October due to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Headlined by Vince Carter, here are the 13 people inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024, representing NBA and WNBA stars, as well as longtime college and high school coaches:
Vince Carter: Known for his incredible dunking skills, Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and 1999 Rookie of the Year during his 22 seasons. He suited up for eight NBA teams in his career, and is the only player to play in four different decades .
“Thank you for this incredible honor. I hold this honor in high esteem,” Carter said during his acceptance speech. “I’ve finally been able to process that you’ve bestowed upon me an honor that not many players have ever experienced. I now walk through the doors that icons of the game have walked through.”
Michelle Timms: This year’s International Committee member, Timms won two Olympic gold medals for Australia in 1996 and 2000. She played internationally with German club Lotus Munich and five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury of the American Professional Basketball Association. Timms is also in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Chauncey Billups: Billups won the 2004 NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons and earned Finals MVP honors. He was a five-time All-Star, playing for seven teams during his 17 NBA seasons. He is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
“It was in Detroit where I became an NBA champion known as a winner, which is all I ever wanted,” Billups said, wearing the city’s famous sunglasses.
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 in 2001 and 2002 and was named the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2000.
Walter Davis: An All-Star six times during his 15 seasons in the NBA, Davis is considered the Phoenix Suns’ all-time leading scorer. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Games and was named the 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Harley Redden: Women’s Veteran of the Year, Redden went 431-66 in 18 seasons at Wayland Baptist University, including two undefeated seasons, and won six AAU national championships. He was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and won the Naismith Award for Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Basketball in 2000.
Dick Barnett: A member of the Men’s Veterans of the Year committee, Barnett won three straight NAIA national titles at Tennessee A&I University, which was the first historically black college to win a men’s basketball championship. He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was an All-Star in 1968.
Bo Ryan: A 2017 College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Ryan won 747 games in 32 seasons as a head coach, winning three Division III championships. He was a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year at Wisconsin, won four regular season titles, three conference tournament titles, and made two Final Fours.
Simone Augustus: A member of the Women’s Committee of the Year, Augustus was the No. 1 pick in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx, won the 2006 Rookie of the Year award and played 15 seasons in the league. At LSU, she played in three Final Fours and won the Naismith and Wooden Awards.
“The first act is over. The second act is just beginning for me. And if I do this right, I might come back here another night.” August saidIn reference to 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 a player (class of 1980), Olympian (in 2010), and now as a contributor. As an executive, he won six 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 Louisiana’s all-time winningest coach. Twice, his teams went 41-0 (in 2004 and 2010). He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
Doug Collins: As a player, Collins was a four-time All-Star during his eight seasons in the NBA. As a coach, he won 442 games with four teams. However, Collins may be best known to many basketball fans as a television analyst for CBS, NBC, TNT and ESPN.
Herb Simon: Simon has owned the Indiana Pacers since 1983, making him the longest-tenured franchise owner in NBA history. He also co-owns Indiana Fever with his nephew David. The Pacers made the NBA Playoffs 27 times during Simon’s tenure, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2000.
“This is not the recognition I ever expected. But I am honored and humbled to receive it.” – Herb Simon #24Hop Class
– HOF Basketball (@Hoophall) October 13, 2024
“This is not a confession I ever expected,” Simon said in his speech. “But I feel honored and humbled to receive it.”
