INDIANAPOLIS-. Vince Carter is one step away from the Basketball Hall of Fame. Carter, who played 22 seasons, the most in league history, was among the finalists to make the field, announced Friday during the All-Star Game weekend.
In his first year of eligibility, Carter is a finalist.
Also among the finalists was Simone Augustus, four-time WNBA champion; Chauncey Billups, former Detroit Pistons point guard and current Portland Trail Blazers coach; Michael Cooper, point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers; Walter Davis, all-time scorer for the Phoenix Suns, and Bo Ryan, former Wisconsin coach.
The list is completed with three nominees as league contributors: former player and coach Doug Collins, Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and NBA legend NBA Jerry West, enthroned as a player in 1980.
“Every year is new, every year is different. “We are very happy with this group,” said Jerry Colangelo, president of the Hall of Fame. “Hopefully we will have great results in terms of voting.”
That vote will take place next week. The Hall of Fame class of 2024 will be revealed during the Final Four round of college basketball on April 6 in Phoenix.
The new members will be inducted on August 17 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“Unbelievable,” Carter said. “You look at the crowd and the Hall of Famers and you see the great opportunity… It doesn’t get any better than that. You can’t beat it. It is a proud moment.”
Other finalists include Charles Smith, the winningest high school coach in Louisiana history; former Kansas coach Marian Washington, former Australian guard Michele Timms, former three-time Tennessee A&I NAIA champion Dick Barnett and six-time AAU champion coach Harley Redin.
Source: AP
