Indianapolis--African-born NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo and fellow NBA All-Stars Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White were among six people announced Monday as 2015 inductees to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Joining them in receiving the honor for career achievements were 39-year NBA referee Dick Bavetta, three-time US college Coach of the Year John Calipari and three-time Women's NBA Most Valuable Player Lisa Leslie.
All received at least 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee of the sport shrine, which will stage induction ceremonies September 11 at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Also to be inducted this year are five previously announced direct-elect honorees from various Hall committees, including long-time Australian player and coach Lindsay Gaze, early pioneer John Isaacs, contributor George Raveling, former player and coach Tom Heinsohn and 1970s standout Louis Dampier.
"The Class of 2015 is a group of outstanding individuals who represent many eras and facets of basketball," said Hall of Fame board chairman Jerry Colangelo.
"Their commitment to the game is undeniable and the impact they have had on others is even greater. We are very pleased to honor this remarkable group of inductees."
Mutombo, an eight-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the year from the Democratic Republic of Congo, led the league in blocked shots for five seasons in a row from 1993-94 to 1997-98, his sideways finger wag motion after blocks becoming a trademark.
In an NBA career that spanned 18 seasons from 1991 to 2009, Mutombo scored 11,729 points, grabbed 12,359 rebounds and blocked 3,289 shots.
Four-time All-Star Haywood from 12 NBA seasons from 1970 to 1983, scoring 14,592 points and pulling down 7,038 rebounds and helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the 1980 NBA title. He was also the top scorer on the 1968 US Olympic gold medal squad.
AFP
