The final members of the 2014 Naismith Hall of Fame Class were officially announced today. Joining former NBA commissioner David Stern in the class are Alonzo Mourning and Mitch Redmond.
Alonzo Mourning had a 15-year NBA career that included being part of the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat, seven all-star selections, two NBA Defensive player of the year awards, and an all-NBA first team selection, an all-NBA second team selection, and having his number 33 retired by the Miami Heat. He also won an Olympic Gold Medal (2000) and FIBA World Championship Gold Medal (1994). At Georgetown, he was a consensus first team All-American (1992) and second team All-American (1990) and Big East player of the Year (1992). The second overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, Mourning was a center who would average 17.1 points and 8.5 blocks per game in his career.
Mitch Redmond had a 14-year NBA career that included being part of the 2002 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, six all-star selections, three All-NBA second team selections, two All-NBA third team selections, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and having his number 22 retired by the Sacramento Kings. In college he was a consensus second team All-American and had his number 23 retired by Kansas State. He won an Olympic Gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games, and a Bronze medal in the 1988 Seoul games. The shooting guard was the fifth overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft and would average 21.0 points per game in his career, shooting 45.5% from the field and 38.8% from three point range.
David Stern was the NBA commissioner for 30 years, growing the league greatly during his years in charge. He has led the league to an era of prosperity and helped to grow the game globally to its biggest point ever. His era saw NBA players go to the Olympics, the careers of greats such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O`Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James, expansion and stability, big money tv contracts, and the introduction of instant replay.
Other 2014 inductees will include:
Nolan Richardson, former head coach of Arkansas who led the Razorbacks to three Final Four trips and the 1994 NCAA title.
Nat Clifton who was a pioneer as of the first African Americans in the NBA, he averaged 10 points a game over an eight-year NBA career.
Sarunas Marciulionis was another NBA pioneer. He was the first player from the Soviet Union to play in the NBA. In seven NBA seasons, Marciulionis averaged 12.8 points and 1.3 steals per game. He also had a successful European pro career.
Bob Leonard was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers in their ABA days. He was the winningest coach in ABA history and led the Pacers to three league titles.
Gary Williams coached Maryland to the 2002 National Championship. Overall he led the Tarapins to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 21 years as head coach.
Guy Rodgers. He was a four-time NBA All-Star in a 12-year career, and averaged 11.7 points per game and 7.8 assists per game in his career. He also helped Temple to a final four appearance in his college career.
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