The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted 11 new members into its revered fraternity Friday night with a ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The ceremony honored the accomplishments of some of the sport’s greatest pioneers, contributors, and ambassadors.
Ranging from NBA All-Stars, such as Jo Jo White and Dikembe Mutumbo, to coaching legends including John Calipari, and arguably the most decorated WNBA player of all time in Lisa Leslie, this year’s inductee class was among the most diverse in recent years.
“The Class of 2015 is a group of outstanding individuals who represent many eras and facets of basketball,” Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board, Jerry Colangelo said, according to NBA.com. “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.”
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is not solely limited to former NBA players, as coaches, referees, and contributors to the game are also eligible for enshrinement.
“We are honored to recognize the highly distinguished Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2015,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “They have contributed a great deal to the game we all love, as players, coaches, teachers, mentors and more.”
Former NBA superstars Allen Iverson and Chris Webber are possible headliners for next year’s induction class, per Basketball-Reference.com.