David Stern elected to Basketball Hall of Fame

Former NBA commissioner David Stern was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Stern retired on February 1 after 30 years as commissioner of the NBA. He will be inducted into the hall with the class of 2014 on August 8. Stern is one of four people who were directly elected to the hall of fame. Lithuania star Sarunas Marciulionis, former Indiana Pacers coach Bob “Slick” Leonard, former New York Knicks player Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, and former Temple star Guy Rodgers were also directly elected, according to the Associated Press.

Stern's successor and current NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, showed his support. "I wanted to be here for David because I knew he wasn't in New Orleans this weekend. Just to be here to share the experience and then relay it back to him what the feel in the room was," Silver said. "As I said earlier, while David is a modest guy, I know he was moved by the fact this was all happening so quickly, and he has always told me he doesn't like to reflect back sort of on his life or his career, but this will certainly force him to. And I know this is an emotional moment for him and it's an emotional moment for everybody who has worked with him over these years."

Five former players have been selected as finalists for the Hall of Fame. The finalists are: Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Kevin Johnson, and Spencer Haywood, according to CBS Sports.

Former players aren’t the only finalists for the Hall of Fame, however. College coaches are also among the finalists, including Eddie Sutton, Nolan Richardson, and Gary Williams. Former women’s coach Harley Redin and the women’s team from Immaculata College, who won three straight national championships, are also finalists.

The full 2014 class will be announced during the NCAA Final Four on April 7.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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