Featured Columnist IVOctober 14, 2024
David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame held its induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 on Sunday, honoring among the most vital gamers and contributors to the game.
The induction of the high-flying Vince Carter was arguably the spotlight of the day, and his speech ranged from talking about his cousin and former teammate, Tracy McGrady, to his hero Julius “Dr. J” Erving agreeing to introduce him:
NBA @NBA
Vince Carter speaks on the love and assist he is acquired from his cousin, Tracy McGrady 🤞
📺 #24HoopClass Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/3jf2UgtkEj
Brooklyn Nets @BrooklynNets
.@mrvincecarter15 thanking @JuliusErving 🥺 pic.twitter.com/4l2fquJmrP
“Thanks to your cheers and your boos,” Carter stated throughout his speech. “It has been a motivating drive to make it to 22 years of the league.”
Michael Jordan additionally gave him some love throughout the ceremony:
NBA @NBA
“Congratulations man.”
Michael Jordan to #24HoopClass inductee, Vince Carter 🤝🔥 pic.twitter.com/WCshExyfGk
Maybe most notably, he confirmed a bit of reports that may imply quite a bit to the followers of his first workforce, the Toronto Raptors.
“Definitely, I am going into the Corridor of Fame as a Raptor,” he said.
NBA TV @NBATV
Vince Carter confirms he is coming into the @Hoophall as a Toronto Raptor and talks his bond with Kyle Lowry 🤝#24HoopClass pic.twitter.com/dxegJUBBVJ
Alykhan Khamisa Ravjiani (AK) @AlykhanKR
“Definitely, I am going into the Corridor of Fame as a Raptor” – Vince Carter
Absolute chills. The Carter Impact will eternally be a staple of basketball’s progress in Canada. #WeTheNorth
In the meantime, quite a lot of Los Angeles Lakers legends had been in the home to enshrine the late, nice Jerry West into the Corridor of Fame for a 3rd time, this time as an govt.
NBA @NBA
Laker greats in Springfield to enshrine the late Jerry West into the @Hoophall for an unprecedented third time 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/RLeiKxFeHK
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Lot of Laker superstardom at @Hoophall for Jerry West. pic.twitter.com/kvRKhLwzNX
His son, Jonnie West, provided touching remarks in honor of his father:
NBA @NBA
“Contributor to the sport of basketball. That’s you in each single sense and that may stay on eternally.”
Jonnie West, the late Jerry West’s son, with an exquisite closing comment for Jerry’s third @Hoophall induction 🤍 pic.twitter.com/OAjU5SkJyV
And Michael Cooper, who was additionally enshrined on Sunday as a participant, paid tribute to West:
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
“The brand. The icon of our recreation. He was a good friend and a mentor. And I owe him greater than he can ever perceive.”@ShowtimeCooper expressing his gratitude for the good Jerry West 💜 pic.twitter.com/188jF58cDI
Cooper acquired fairly the introduction himself:
NBA @NBA
“COOOOOOOP” 🗣️
Magic Johnson, Lisa Leslie & Pat Riley main the Michael Cooper chant!
📺 #24HoopClass Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/NJ2DgQe3c4
Former WNBA star Seimone Augustus led one of many moments of the day, main the Corridor in track, alongside thanking and honoring her mother and father:
espnW @espnW
Seimone Augustus began her Corridor of Fame speech with a track devoted to her residence of Baton Rouge, LA 🎵 pic.twitter.com/t2ppHEGBNp
NBA TV @NBATV
Seimone Augustus with a Corridor of Fame speech and a nod towards her subsequent chapter with @LSUwbkb 🫡@Hoophall | #24HoopClass pic.twitter.com/MPKXpIZGdm
Present Portland Path Blazers head coach and former star level guard Chauncey Billups had a shoutout for town of Detroit and his former teammate and fellow Corridor of Famer, Ben Wallace, throughout his speech:
NBA TV @NBATV
“It was in Detroit the place I grew to become often called a winner, which is all I ever wished”@1MrBigShot exhibiting like to the @DetroitPistons throughout his enshrinement speech 😎@Hoophall | #24HoopClass pic.twitter.com/H5CP0g5Y8K
Doug Collins, who was inducted into the Corridor as a coach and broadcaster, took the event to discuss what the sport of basketball meant to him:
NBA @NBA
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME ❤️🔥#24HoopClass inductee, Doug Collins, offers a heartfelt message on what the sport of basketball has meant to him. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/OTZ1RJ1Jfc
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Doug Collins is telling a e-book’s price of tales right here @hoophall. Superb stuff. From making free throws for a gold medal in ’72 in one of many controversial video games in sports activities historical past; teaching Michael Jordan, first time assembly Dr. J and on and on. Wild.
Additionally honored on the ceremony had been as follows:
Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever proprietor Herb Simon.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Herb Simon! pic.twitter.com/wThqiLvUTc
Wayland Baptist College head coach Harley Redin.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Harley Redin! pic.twitter.com/6TI3TavQsw
Peabody Excessive Faculty coach Charles Smith.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Charles Smith! pic.twitter.com/ErlsBpPZDT
Former Syracuse Nationals, Cleveland Pipers, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks participant Dick Barnett.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Dick Barnett! pic.twitter.com/SCEaRPMLNB
WNBA and Australian star Michele Timms.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Michele Timms! pic.twitter.com/F7qVM6L4qb
Wisconsin males’s basketball coach Bo Ryan.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Bo Ryan! pic.twitter.com/JyHfknTYDe
And former Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Path Blazers and Denver Nuggets participant Walter Davis.
NBA @NBA
Congrats to #24HoopClass inductee, Walter Davis! pic.twitter.com/BRmQPwpRHj
Cooper maybe greatest summed up what it feels prefer to be inducted into the Corridor.
“I really feel like I am being welcomed into a tremendous household,” he said throughout his speech. “One with acquainted faces. I’m grateful and honored. Thanks to the Corridor, and all of you”
