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The Recently Announced 2021 Class of the Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees
Introduction
While it is nearly impossible to beat the 2020 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame inductees that included legends like Patrick Baumann, Kobe Bryant, Tamika Catchings, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, Eddie Sutton, and Rudy Tomjanovich; the Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2021 is pretty amazing in its own right. The upcoming enshrinements (class of 2021) are headlined by the phenomenal players including Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Chris Webber, and Ben Wallace which are all very deserving of the honor as well as others like Rick Adelman, Jay Wright, Bill Russell (as coach), Yolanda Griffith, and Lauren Jackson.
Bob Dandridge of the veteran’s committee, Pearl Moore of the women’s veteran’s committee, Toni Kukoc of the international committee, Clarence Jenkins of the early African – American pioneers, as well as Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and Howard Garfinkel of the contributors are also being recognized during the 2021 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The ceremony for this class of inductees to be enshrined as Basketball Hall of Famers is currently scheduled for Saturday, September 11th, 2021.
Webber has been close over the past half – decade as Chris was finalist in each of the last 5 years before finally making it in for the 2021 class. Pierce and Bosh were both players that made it in to the Basketball Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility.
Paul Pierce
Pierce measured in at 6 foot 7 inches and 235 pounds. He attended the University of Kansas to play college basketball for the Jayhawks. He was selected with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Paul played small forward in the National Basketball League for the Boston Celtics from 1998 to 2013, the Brooklyn Nets from 2013 to 2014, the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2015, and the Los Angeles Clippers from 2015 to 2017. Pierce scored 26,397 points (19.7 points per game), grabbed 7,527 rebounds (5.6 rebounds per game), and dished out 4,708 assists (3.5 assists per game).
Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
- NBA Champion (2008)
- NBA Finals MVP (2008)
- 10 Time NBA All – Star (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- All – NBA Second Team (2009)
- 3 Time All – NBA Third Team (2002, 2003, 2008)
- NBA All – Rookie First Team (1999)
- NBA Three – Point Contest Champion (2010)
- Number 34 Retired by the Boston Celtics
- Consensus First – Team All – American (1998)
- First – Team All – Big 12 (1998)
- Third – Team All – Big 12 (1997)
- 2 Time Big 12 Tournament MVP (1997, 1998)
- Number 34 Retired by the Kansas Jayhawks
- McDonald's All – American (1995)
- Second – Team Parade All – American (1995)
- California Mr. Basketball (1995)
Chris Bosh
Bosh measured in at 6 foot 11 inches and 235 pounds. He attended the Georgia Tech University to play college basketball for the Yellow Jackets. He was selected with the 4th overall pick in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. Chris played center / power forward in the National Basketball League for the Toronto Raptors from 2003 to 2010 and the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2017. Bosh scored 17,189 points (19.2 points per game), grabbed 7,592 rebounds (8.5 rebounds per game), and dished out 1,795 assists (2.0 assists per game).
Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
- 2 Time NBA champion (2012, 2013)
- 11 Time NBA All – Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
- All – NBA Second Team (2007)
- NBA All – Rookie First Team (2004)
- Number 1 Retired by the Miami Heat
- ACC Rookie of the Year (2003)
- Second – Team All – ACC (2003)
- First – Team Parade All – American (2002)
- McDonald's All – American (2002)
- Texas Mr. Basketball (2002)
Chris Webber
Webber measured in at 6 foot 10 inches and 245 pounds. He attended the University of Michigan to play college basketball for the Wolverines. He was selected with the 1st overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Chris played power forward in the National Basketball League for the Golden State Warriors from 1993 to 1994, the Washington Bullets / Wizards from 1994 to 1998, the Sacramento Kings from 1998 to 2005, the Philadelphia 76ers from 2005 to 2007, the Detroit Pistons in 2007, and the Golden State Warriors 2008. Webber scored 17,182 points (20.7 points per game), grabbed 8,124 rebounds (9.8 rebounds per game), and dished out 3,526 assists (4.2 assists per game).
Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
- Hall of Fame Inductee (2021)
- 5 Time NBA All – Star (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
- All – NBA First Team (2001)
- 3 Time All – NBA Second Team (1999, 2002, 2003)
- All – NBA Third Team (2000)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1994)
- NBA All – Rookie First Team (1994)
- NBA Rebounding Leader (1999)
- Number 4 Retired by the Sacramento Kings
- Consensus First – Team All – American (1993)
- USBWA National Freshman of the Year (1992)
- National High School Player of the Year (1991)
- 2 Time First – Team Parade All – American (1990, 1991)
- McDonald's All – American Co – MVP (1991)
- Mr. Basketball of Michigan (1991)
Ben Wallace
Wallace measured in at 6 foot 9 inches and 240 pounds. He attended Cuyahoga Community College to play college basketball for the Tri – C’s from 1992 to 1994 as well as Virginia Union University to play college basketball for the Panthers from 1994 to 1996. He was an undrafted player out of college who entered the NBA in 1996. Chris played center in the National Basketball League for the Washington Bullets / Wizards from 1996 to 1999, the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2000, the Detroit Pistons from 2000 to 2006, the Chicago Bulls from 2006 to 2008, the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2008 to 2009, and the Detroit Pistons once again from 2009 to 2012. Wallace scored 6,254 points (5.7 points per game), grabbed 10,482 rebounds (9.6 rebounds per game), and blocked 2,137 shots (2.0 blocks per game).
Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
- NBA Champion (2004)
- 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee
- 4 Time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
- 4 Time NBA All – Star (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
- 3 Time All – NBA Second Team (2003, 2004, 2006)
- 2 Time All – NBA Third Team (2002, 2005)
- 5 Time NBA All – Defensive First Team (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
- NBA All – Defensive Second Team (2007)
- 2 Time NBA Rebounding Leader (2002, 2003)
- NBA Blocks Leader (2002)
- Number 3 Retired by the Detroit Pistons
- First – Team Division II All – American – NABC (1996)
Rick Adelman
Adelman led his teams to 2 NBA Finals, and he won more than 1,000 games as a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association.
Jay Wright
Wright pushed Villanova back to the top of the NCAA college basketball landscape, winning two titles the first in 2016 and the second in 2018. Jay has made it to 3 NCAA Final Fours during his time in Philadelphia so far.
Bill Russell (as a coach)
Russell was not only one of the greatest players of all time in the National Basketball Association, and he was also the NBA's first Black head coach. He won a pair of NBA titles as the Boston Celtics' coach in the late 1960’s. Russell had previously been inducted in to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player back in 1975. Bill becomes just the 5th Hall of Famer who will be enshrined as both a player and a coach in order to join only John Wooden, Lenny Wilkens, Bill Sharman, and Tommy Heinsohn.
Yolanda Griffith
Yolanda Griffith was named the 1999 WNBA MVP, and she carried the Sacramento Monarchs to the WNBA title in 2005.
Lauren Jackson
Jackson was a three – time MVP, and she won 2 WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm.
Bob Dandridge
Voted in by the veterans committee.
Toni Kukoc
Voted in by the international committee.
Pearl Moore
Voted in by the women’s veterans committee.
Clarence Jenkins
Elected as an Early African – American Pioneer.
Val Ackerman
Former WNBA President. (Contributor)
Cotton Fitzsimmons
Long – time NBA coach. (Contributor)
Howard Garfinkel
Creator of the Five – Star Summer Camp. (Contributor)
Eastern Conference NBA Standings (as of Wednesday, May 19th, 2021)
1.) Philadelphia 76ers 49 – 23 0 Games Behind
2.) Brooklyn Nets 48 – 24 1 Games Behind
3.) Milwaukee Bucks 46 – 26 3 Games Behind
4.) New York Knicks 41 – 31 8 Games Behind
5.) Atlanta Hawks 41 – 31 8 Games Behind
6.) Miami Heat 40 – 32 9 Games Behind
7.) Boston Celtics 36 – 36 13 Games Behind
8.) Washington Wizards 34 – 38 15 Games Behind
Indiana Pacers 34 – 38 15 Games Behind
Charlotte Hornets 33 – 39 16 Games Behind
Chicago Bulls 31 – 41 18 Games Behind
Toronto Raptors 27 – 45 22 Games Behind
Cleveland Cavaliers 22 – 50 27 Games Behind
Orlando Magic 21 – 51 28 Games Behind
Detroit Pistons 20 – 52 29 Games Behind
Western Conference NBA Standings (as of Wednesday, May 19th, 2021)
1.) Utah Jazz 52 – 20 0 Games Behind
2.) Phoenix Suns 51 – 21 1 Games Behind
3.) Denver Nuggets 47 – 25 5 Games Behind
4.) Los Angeles Clippers 47 – 25 5 Games Behind
5.) Dallas Mavericks 42 – 30 10 Games Behind
6.) Portland Trail Blazers 42 – 30 10 Games Behind
7.) Los Angeles Lakers 42 – 30 10 Games Behind
8.) Golden State Warriors 39 – 33 13 Games Behind
Memphis Grizzlies 38 – 34 14 Games Behind
San Antonio Spurs 33 – 39 19 Games Behind
New Orleans Pelicans 31 – 41 21 Games Behind
Sacramento Kings 31 – 41 21 Games Behind
Minnesota Timberwolves 23 – 49 29 Games Behind
Oklahoma City Thunder 22 – 50 30 Games Behind
Houston Rockets 17 – 55 35 Games Behind
Odds to Win the 2020 – 2021 NBA Championship
According to My Bookie Sportsbook these are the odds as of Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 to win the 2020 – 2021 NBA championship outright.
| Team Odds |
|---|
| Brooklyn Nets +220 |
| Los Angeles Lakers +450 |
| Los Angeles Clippers +550 |
| Utah Jazz +650 |
| Philadelphia 76ers +750 |
| Milwaukee Bucks +800 |
| Phoenix Suns +1500 |
| Miami Heat +3500 |
| Denver Nuggets +3500 |
| Dallas Mavericks +4100 |
| Portland Trail Blazers +5000 |
| Atlanta Hawks +8500 |
| Boston Celtics +10000 |
| New York Knicks +13000 |
| Golden State Warriors +13000 |
| Washington Wizards - |
| Memphis Grizzlies +32500 |
| Indiana Pacers +30000 |
| Charlotte Hornets - |
| San Antonio Spurs +70000 |
Sources:
“Basketball Hall of Fame: Everything you need to know about the Class of 2021”, espn.com, April 15, 2021.
“Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace headline 2021 class for Basketball Hall of Fame”, Tim Bontemps, espn.com, May 16, 2021.
“NBA Standings 2020 – 21”, espn.com, May 19, 2021.
“United States, NBA Futures – NBA 2020 / 21 Championship: To Win Outright”, mybookie.ag, May 19, 2021.