Hall Of Famers 7

James Naismith

Enshrined 1959
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
11/06/1861 - 11/28/1939

Biography

In the winter of 1891, when a thirty-year old physical education instructor from the local YMCA
in Springfield, Massachusetts named James Naismith invented an indoor game that could be
played between football and baseball seasons, basketball was born. Naismith wrote and
developed basketball's original thirteen rules and, through the YMCA network, quickly spread
the news throughout the country. As basketball's popularity grew, Naismith neither sought
publicity nor engaged in self-promotion. He was first and foremost an educator. He embraced
recreational sport but shied away from the glory of competitive athletics. Although he never had
the opportunity to see basketball become the astonishing success it is today, Naismith's biggest
thrill came when he was sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to
witness basketball become an Olympic sport at the 1936 Games held in Berlin. Today, basketball
has grown into a sport that more than 300 million people play worldwide.

Career Highlights

Physical education instructor, Springfield College, 1890-95
Invented the game of "basket ball," as basketball was originally called
Developed basketball's original thirteen rules
Physical education professor, University of Kansas, 1917-37

Hall Of Famers

George Mikan

Enshrined 1959
Joliet, IL
June 18, 1924 - June 2, 2005

Biography

The marquee above Madison Square Garden that flashed "George Mikan vs. Knicks" aptly told the story of basketball's original superstar. The first dominant big man in professional ball, George Mikan played with a competitive fire and zest matched by few. Playing under Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer at DePaul University, the 6-foot-10 Mikan along with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Kurland, swatted away so many shots that in 1944 the NCAA introduced a rule that prohibited goaltending. Unaffected by the rule change, Mikan led DePaul to the 1945 NIT title. Mikan enjoyed an extraordinary professional career, most notably winning championships with the Minneapolis Lakers. A dominating offensive force, Mikan led three different professional leagues in scoring and set the standard for all future centers. He was voted the greatest player in the first half century by the Associated Press.

Career Highlights

	All-America at DePaul, 1944, 1945
	All-NBA First-Team, 1950-54
	Four-time NBA All-Star, 1951-54
	Championships with the Chicago Gears, 1947, and Minneapolis Lakers, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952-54

Hall Of Famers

Michael Jordan

Enshrined 2009
Brooklyn, NY
Born: February 17, 1963

Biography

Michael Jordan personified greatness on the court, and redefined superstar athlete off it. His freshman season at UNC culminated with Jordan hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA national title game. That shot put Michael on the map and a new era was born. Following his junior year, Jordan entered the NBA Draft and was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls. The young superstar began stockpiling NBA hardware. The court was his and the world soon followed. His unmistakable style – the wagging tongue, the baggy shorts, the signature line of sneakers – helped make the 14-time All-Star the most recognizable person on the planet. Still his résumé lacked an NBA title. Then in 1991, the Jordan-led Bulls launched an all-out assault on the rest of the league winning three straight world championships. Michael won Olympic gold again in 1992 and then in 1993 abruptly retired from the Bulls to play minor league baseball. He returned to the NBA full-time in 1995 and the Bulls promptly won three consecutive titles. Jordan was named Finals MVP each time. In 2001, Jordan made a second improbable comeback and still averaged 20 points per game and appeared in the 2002 and 2003 All-Star Games.

Career Highlights

	NBA MVP, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
	All-NBA First Team, 1987-1993, 1996-1998
	Naismith and Wooden Award winner, 1984
	NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1996

Hall Of Famers

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Enshrined 2002
Lansing, MI
Born August 14, 1959

Biography

Few players in history have exhibited as much enthusiasm for basketball or displayed such an engaging personality both on-and-off the court as Earvin "Magic" Johnson. It was Johnson's incredible passion, coupled with his amazing skills that dazzled generations of fans and turned basketball into "Showtime." At 6-foot-9, Johnson was a point guard in a power forward's body. No player Johnson's size had ever done what he could do with a basketball and his incredible talents resulted in a national championship at Michigan State (1979) and five with the Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). Throughout the 1980s, he turned the triple double - double figures in three statistical categories - into an art form. The all-time assist (10,141) and steals (1,724) leader in Laker history, Johnson was the NBA's all-time leader in assists when he retired. Johnson redefined the sphere of traditional position play because he could excel at every phase of the game. As a rookie in the 1980 NBA Finals, Johnson played all five positions - scored 42 points - and was named NBA Finals MVP. Following his star-studded scholastic career at Lansing Everett High School and All-America career at MSU, Johnson became an immediate NBA superstar, becoming a 12-time All-Star, a two-time All-Star Game MVP (1990, 1992) and nine-time NBA First-Team selection.

Career Highlights

	NCAA Championship with Michigan State, 1979
	NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 1979
	NBA Most Valuable Player, 1987, 1989, 1990
	NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1996

Hall Of Famers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Enshrined 1995
New York, NY
Born: April 16, 1947

Biography

The world may never again see an athlete dominate basketball for as long and as thoroughly as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From the time he stepped on the court as Lewis Alcindor at Power Memorial High School in his native New York City, to the years he owned college basketball at UCLA to the time he retired as the NBA's all-time leader in nine statistical categories including the most points in NBA history, the 7-foot-2 superstar established himself as one of basketball's most talented and recognizable figures. Abdul-Jabbar's trademark skyhook was so precise and unstoppable it left defenders helpless. While one of Abdul-Jabbar's signature maneuvers, it is now widely considered basketball's most classic and lethal offensive move. Abdul-Jabbar brought finesse and agility to the center position, two traits he substituted for brute force and strength. He was the kind of player who graces a sport once in a lifetime.

Career Highlights

	Three NCAA Championships with UCLA, 1967-69
	National College Player of the Year, 1967, 1969
	NBA championship with Milwaukee Bucks, 1971
	NBA championship with Los Angeles Lakers, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988

Hall Of Famers

David Robinson

Enshrined 2009
Key West, FL
Born: August 6, 1965

Biography

Christened “The Admiral” at the US Naval Academy, David Robinson patrolled the lane like a mighty aircraft carrier for nearly twenty seasons. Robinson led the nation in rebounding and blocked shots in 1987 and for his efforts he won both the Naismith and Wooden Awards that year. After fulfilling his commitment to the US Navy, Robinson joined the San Antonio Spurs in 1989 and quickly transformed the franchise into a contender. He spent his entire career in San Antonio leading his mates to two NBA championships, the first in 1999 and the second in 2003, Robinson’s final season. A ten-time All-Star, Robinson led the NBA in scoring in 1994 when he torched the nets for 71 points in the final game of the season to edge out Shaquille O’Neal. The 1992 Defensive Player of the Year was equally effective as a shot-blocker, rebounder, and all-around talent. A three-time Olympian, Robinson won two gold medals (1992, 1996) and one bronze medal (1988).

Career Highlights

	NBA Rookie of the Year, 1990
	NBA Most Valuable Player, 1995
	NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
	The Sporting News College Player of the Year, 1987

Hall Of Famers

Dennis Rodman

Enshrined 2011
Trenton, NJ
May 13, 1961

Biography

Loud. Flamboyant. Brash. Brilliant. While Dennis Rodman was both celebrated and hated for his tattoos, colorful hair, and bad boy attitude, there was no denying the greatness of a man that controlled games just by controlling the boards. The six-foot-eight-inch forward led the NBA in rebounds per game for a record-setting seven consecutive seasons from 1991 to 1998. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Rodman loved doing the dirty work that is crucial to a team’s success. “The Worm” won his first NBA championship in 1989 with the Detroit Pistons. The following year Rodman was the league’s best defender and he helped the Pistons capture a second consecutive ring. In 1995, after a short stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Rodman landed in Chicago where he teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan to bring the Windy City three titles in three years. A three-time All-America at Southeastern Oklahoma State, Rodman led the NAIA in rebounding his junior and senior seasons.

Career Highlights

	Two-time NBA All Star, 1990, 1992
	Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 1990, 1991
	NBA All-Defensive First Team, 1989-1993, 1995, 1996
	All-NBA Third Team, 1992, 1995