Spring 2021 Under the Dome

N A I S M I T H M E M O R I A L B A S K E T B A L L H A L L O F FA M E

UNDER THE DOME SPRING/SUMMER 2021

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T H E F I R ST H A L F Under the Dome (UTD) is the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s magazine to provide an update on the organization, highlight exciting events and to ensure that all of our valuable stakeholders are informed on Hall of Fame happenings.

So much has transpired since our last issue, it seems like a lifetime ago that we inducted the Class of 2019 and shared the new Hall of Honor with our Hall of Famers. While the world has changed forever with this pandemic, one thing stays true - our love of basketball, the game and its people.

With Enshrinement Weekend on the horizon, and our society continuing to rebound, we are excited to join together to properly celebrate the incredible class of 2020. The future is bright we are optimistic for what 2021 has in store.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Under the Dome and wish you all continued health and happiness!

Board and Organizational Leadership

Editorial Staff

Jerry Colangelo, Chairman Junior Bridgeman, Vice Chairman Jim Vinick, Treasurer John L. Doleva, President & CEO

Robin Vidito, Annual Giving Manager Matt Zeysing, Historian & Curator Scott Zuffelato, VP Philanthropy

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Community Spotlight - Initiatives; “Liberty, Justice & Ball” ........................................................ 4 Shoot-around - Bubbleville 2020..............................................................................................................6 Hall of Famer Spotlight - Celebrating the Life, Remembering the Legacy...........................10 Enshrinement News - Class of 2020 & Award Winners................................................................ 16 Renovation Update - The Buzzer Sounds.......................................................................................... 22 Marketing Partner Showcase - Hillyard............................................................................................... 25 Spotlight - George Kalinsky..................................................................................................................... 26 Celebrating the Game - The Starting Five & Class of 2021........................................................ 28 A Note from the President ....................................................................................................................... 31

Under the Dome - the publication for Hall of

Facebook: /BBHOF and /thehoophallclassic

Famers, Community Partners, friends and fans who support The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as donors and advocates. For questions or comments, please contact Robin Vidito or Scott Zuffelato in the Department of Philanthropy. (413) 231-5520

Instagram: @Hoophall Twitter: @Hoophall YouTube Channel: /OfficialHoophall

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C O M M U N I T Y S P OT L I G H T

CO M M U N I T Y S P OT L I G H T

In this edition of Under the Dome it is our honor to update readers on our efforts to further the national dialogue of identifying and eradicating racial inequality.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS The Basketball Hall of Fame has been at the forefront in creating activities that promote social justice for more than a decade.

In 2007, the Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award was established. It celebrates those of our industry that have overcome obstacles, challenged the status quo and are recognized leaders and catalysts for change in their communities. We have had the honor of presenting the award to 36 recipients since its inception.

The Enshrinement Class of 2021 will be the 10th anniversary of the Early African-American Pioneers of the Game’ Committee. Created to recognize individuals that were overlooked as

Hall of Fame candidates during the era of segregation, this committee helps ensure that our class elections maintain historical context and reflect the true diversity that has helped shape the modern game.

In response to the events of 2020, the Hall of Fame established a formal Bob Lanier, Mannie Jackson - 2009 “Social Justice Committee” which is tasked with identifying opportunities for the Hall to align its efforts that further the dialogue of racial and social inequality in the sport and society as a whole. We are honored to have Hall of Famer George Raveling as part of this committee. His first hand knowledge and real life experiences during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s with Martin Luther King Jr, are truly invaluable and historic.

Other Committee members include: Sherman Brown (Chairperson), John Calipari, Bryant Clark, Jerry Colangelo, Jim Davidson, Sherrie Deans, Wayne Embry, Robin Harris, Grant Hill, Jim Puhala, Charlie Rosenzweig and Scott Rochelle.

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Hall of Fame Members Standing Up for Early African-American Pioneers of the Game Inductee Chuck Cooper, Class of 2019

LIBERTY, JUSTICE & BALL As some might remember, the Hall of Fame hosted a “Legends” podcast in the past. The first initiative of the Social Justice Committee was to redesign the platform for today’s conversation. Our partnership with Springfield College has enabled us to produce a series of podcasts with Hall of Famers called Liberty, Justice & Ball.

The show is co-hosted by Kris Rhim, a 22 year old Communications/Sports Journalism student and Marty Dobrow, a Professor of Communications at the school.

Kris will discuss racial inequities and social justice issues from the perspective of a young person growing up in today’s world. His ability to blend the lived histories of some of the most recognizable Hall of Famers with a contemporary view as a young man of color is compelling.

Kris Rhim, Springfield College

The first episode was released on April 1st and featured Grant Hill. Episodes will be released every two weeks and will include Cynthia Cooper, Bob Cousy, Chris Mullin, Jerry West, Lenny Wilkens and others.

For the full collection of interviews, visit Apple ITunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher or Soundcloud.

For more information on the Social Justice Committee or the Liberty, Justice & Ball podcast, please contact Scott Zuffelato at (413) 231-5506

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S H O O T- A R O U N D

BUBBLEVILLE 2020

BY PAT O C H OA

2020 was poised to be one of the most extraordinary and successful years in the history of the Hall of Fame. The planned milestones were numerous - including a spectacular Enshrinement Class that featured the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan; A men’s college basketball double header in London, UK - that was going to be a match-up between the powerhouses of University of Kentucky and the University of Michigan.

There were tournaments slated for New York City, Charlotte, NC, Phoenix, AZ and our home arena - Mohegan Sun. Lastly, the three high school events that included the highly anticipated Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay and a new showcase in Los Angeles, CA. Then in early March, news broke about a novel virus spreading around the world. It ravaged communities and left a wake of destruction in its path.

For the first time in more than a century, society as we knew it came to a sudden stop and all activities ceased to exist, including everything the Hall was working on. There were no group gatherings and no professional sports. The world was locked down and it stayed that way until the summer, when the NBA took a calculated risk and launched an all encompassing environment in Orlando one that would keep players safe while allowing them to compete and entertain the countless fans who had been stuck in isolation and struggling under the weight of the pandemic.

It was a social experiment that proved with careful planning and stringent health protocols, sports could exist in this new world. That glimmer of hope gave the Hall of Fame the green light it needed to move forward with its own version of “Bubbleville”.

Bubbleville was created with our partners, The Gazelle Group and Mohegan Sun. Gazelle, whose own tournament series program

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suffered from the shut down, brought resources and expertise to the planning, while Mohegan Sun served as the host site and provided all the infrastructure under one roof needed to run this type of an event.

The logistics required to execute an event of this size before covid was extensive, but to do it in today’s environment was downright daunting.

• Teams provided negative tests for their entire travel party that were taken within 72 hours of their arrival.

• Everyone took a nasal PCR test upon arrival and were quarantined in their rooms until they received clearance with a negative result.

• All players took a saliva PCR test the day before their scheduled game.

Staff followed these same protocols, plus those who were there for the duration of the tournament were required to take a saliva PCR test every three days while inside the “bubble”.

To put it all in perspective, over the two-week span there were 1,075 people in the Bubble and 2,800 tests were administered.

This included event staff, players, coaches, game officials, support staff and courtside media representatives.

But the safety measures didn’t stop there. In addition to the frequent testing, there were other rules for the venue: • Mandatory masks except when eating, playing a game or at practice • Established protected zones that were monitored

by Mohegan Sun security with credentialed access.

(Everyone was required to stay in the zones for the

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duration of their stay).

• Multiple hotel floors were restricted access zones only available to assigned teams, officials, and event staff.

• Each team was assigned a security guard and could only move about the property with a security escort.

(All teams moved “back of house” away from the public.)

In the end, the Hall of Fame and the Gazelle Group were able to bring fans ten straight days of NCAA basketball. The lineup included 25 Division 1 teams and a total of 26 games. And with ESPN as our broadcast partner, fans were able to enjoy 18 nationally televised games.

Some of the top participating teams included Villanova, Virginia, Arizona St., Virginia Tech, USC, Florida, North Carolina State, and UConn. The field featured the women’s teams from Louisville and DePaul in the Women’s Jimmy V Classic.

Considering what was going on throughout the world at the time - it was incredible to have the trust of these programs for the health and wellbeing of their players. The state of college athletics was dire and our success breathed life into the idea that school programs and March Madness could successfully and safely exist.

One thing that was missing was the fan presence. The stands were quiet and ticket revenue was non-existent. However with some creative placements from Hotels.com, the teams were always under the watchful eyes of Captain Obvious and we are thankful to our sponsors for their support. And as a not-forprofit 501c3 organization, these tournaments are critical to our mission. While not the blockbuster fundraising effort that we strive for, the event did help offset some of the lost revenue

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from earlier in the year.

We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize one other key component to Bubbleville’s success the Bubbleville team. The work put in day in and day out for two weeks straight was vital. They accepted the risk of being a part of this event in the midst of a global pandemic. They left their families for the entirety of the event, missing Thanksgiving and time with their loved ones. They worked all day and night assisting with testing, team practices, security, cleaning, game operations - pretty much anything and everything in between.

These warriors were indeed the heart and soul of Bubbleville. Their dedication was the driving force making it run as successfully as it did. Not enough thanks can be given to their efforts. The Basketball Hall of Fame, the Gazelle Group, Mohegan Sun and all the stakeholders came together and accomplished something that will undoubtedly be remembered for the rest of our lives. Incredible.

In closing, I think it’s safe to say, we hope this will be a once in a lifetime experience. However the lessons learned have already served us well in planning a safe and successful Enshrinement Class celebration that is coming in just a few days.

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H A L L O F FA M E R S P O T L I G H T

R E M E M B E R I N G T H E L E G AC Y

BY M AT T Z E YS I N G

As a history museum, preserving and celebrating history is what we do. Telling the stories of legends and sharing their iconic contributions to the game. Striving to inspire the next generation of players, entertaining the fans and never forgetting those who earned the title of “Hall of Famer”.

But even with that said, this has been an incredibly difficult year. Since January of 2020 we have lost fifteen Hall of Famers. For the staff, these men were more than just names in a history book. For the Hall of Famers, these were members of their tightly knit family. While we all must say goodbye, we take comfort in knowing that they are not truly gone.

FO R T H E Y S H A L L L I V E I M M O R TA L I N T H E N A I S M I T H M E M O R I A L B AS K E T B A L L H A L L O F FA M E .

DAV I D ST E R N S E P T E M B E R 2 2 , 1 9 4 2 – JA N UA RY 1 , 2 0 2 0

David Stern grew up in New York City rooting for his hometown Knicks and hoping that basketball might somehow form his future. No one could have imagined that any single figure would impact a game so profoundly. His hand-print stretches across the globe, from Basketball Without Borders to the 1992 Dream Team to NBA Cares.

But his most enduring legacy might be in movements that were never assigned a catchy name. Stern was always a forerunner in matters of social justice and equality. He sincerely believed that his Leagues – NBA, WNBA, and now G League – possess the very real prospect of promoting positive change. This year has shown us how right one man can be.

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Kobe Bryant’s legacy is still being written. While the sports world is quick to point out his greatness on the court, his second act – and one has to imagine, his third, his fourth, his fifth – was just beginning. Bryant’s

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sudden and shocking passing stripped the world of at least two promising figures who just happened to love basketball. The loss means one less young player coming up through the ranks of women’s basketball, and just as importantly, one less fan of the women’s game. For just as Kobe helped make basketball in Asia so popular, he was already magnifying the opportunities for women and girls who shared his love of the game.

Kobe Bryant embraced his Mamba Mentality – his never-ending quest to be better today than yesterday – in all of his endeavors, on and off the court.

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In January of 1965, Morgan Wootten was busy preparing his DeMatha Catholic varsity team for high school basketball’s Game of the Century. Power Memorial with center Lew Alcindor – today Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – was riding a 71-game winning streak. The DeMatha Stags were looking to avenge a loss at the hands of Power the previous season. The sellout crowd of more than 12,000 watched as the Stags held Alcindor to 16 points to earn an improbable win, but no one would have blamed Coach Wootten for being a little distracted that night. His wife, Kathy, was nine months pregnant and so an ambulance sat ready parked outside Maryland’s Cole Field House. Wootten won more than 1,200 games in his career, but the night he led his young charges in to slay Goliath will live forever.

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Boris Stankovic, the veterinary meat inspector of Belgrade before finding his true calling as Secretary General of FIBA, was and still is arguably the most important figure in international basketball history. In the spring of 1989, less than a year removed from the United States men’s team winning bronze at the 1988 Olympics, Boris effectively lobbied FIBA brass to drop amateurism as a requisite for play. The move culminated in the 1992 Dream Team. What Boris realized was that there was a certain inequity in basketball as non-U.S. countries sent paid professionals to international competitions, while the United States selected players from the college ranks. Boris once commented that the situation was not only unfair, but also immoral. He reasoned that opening up play to the best in the world would raise the stakes. The ripple effect of Boris Stankovic’s foresight continue to shape the game today and will for many years to come.

Did you know you can make a gift in honor/memory of your favorite Hall of Famer or loved one? A special way to celebrate their passion for the game.

Tribute gifts are tax-deductible and can recognize any occasion, birthday or anniversary. Visit give.hoophall.com or call (413) 231-5520

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There is perhaps no more unlikely path to basketball immortality than the unpaved backroads Jerry Sloan walked during his childhood days.

The Original Bull, a nickname given to the McLeansboro, Illinois native, was fitting in more ways than one. Yes, he was Chicago’s first pick in the 1966 NBA expansion draft, but more to the point, Jerry was as stubborn as a mule, sly as a fox, and yes, strong as a bull. Those traits served the defensive-minded Sloan well as a player, and later as a coach, when he brought that tough, farmboy-turned-Windy-City-underdog mentality to Salt Lake.

The Utah Jazz teams of the 90s were a testament to the way Jerry Sloan lived his life. Never back down. Never give in. Never quit.

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There are player’s coaches and there are coach’s coaches. And Eddie Sutton was a classic example of the latter.

Not that his former players lack any love for one of the game’s great defensive minds. But maybe it’s that a player’s appreciation comes sometime after the last practice. When the defensive slides are in the rearview, and discipline and dedication – two-thirds of Sutton’s Three D’s – become so significant for life after basketball.

Eddie Sutton played under the like-minded Henry Iba at Oklahoma State, and Mr. Iba’s coaching tree runs deep. When Sutton returned to Stillwater in 1990, Iba was there and the old man got to see firsthand how the student becomes the teacher.

Eddie Sutton’s humility, grace, and open door philosophy led naturally to assisting other coaches, both inside and outside of his program.

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Wes Unseld was an overpowering, albeit undersized, center in an era of great big men. Wilt. Willis. Kareem. Nate the Great. Big Red. Unseld held his own against the best.

The Baltimore/Washington Bullets teams of the Seventies appeared in four NBA Finals. For three of those runs, Unseld was paired alongside fellow future

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Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes. The two complemented each other perfectly, Elvin a little flashy and outspoken, Wes all iron-willed and never a bad word about anyone. Wes and Elvin even became roommates for a brief time when the Bullets sent All-Star Jack Marin to the Rockets. Wes was the heart and soul of those Bullets teams and he was rewarded for his persistence and loyalty with the 1978 NBA Finals MVP and championship ring.

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Lute Olson personified the word class.

From his perfectly-pressed khaki’s to his neatly-styled silver coif, there was just no getting around the fact that on the surface, Lute looked like he might not fit in at the University of Arizona. But fit in he did, and for 24 seasons, he kept the Wildcats on top out West. The gentleman in him was always apparent, his courtside persona strikingly similar to another coaching legend on the Left Coast.

Lute reshaped the college basketball map and reinvigorated the city of Tucson.

Family mattered most to Robert Luther Olson, and because of this, he made sure the Arizona basketball program – players, coaches, support staff, and even the media – felt like family.

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The John Thompson bear hug. Patrick Ewing knows it. A.I., Zo, and Deke – the other players in the Thompson line to make the Hall of Fame – know too. Jim Boeheim, just one of the coaches that made the BIG EAST big, got his fair share over the years.

But perhaps the most poignant hug in Big John’s career was the one he shared with Georgetown senior guard Fred Brown in 1984. There was redemption and rejoicing and release in that embrace. John Thompson remains a singular figure in the history of basketball, especially for being way ahead of the curve on matters of social justice.

But those bear hugs – doled out for players, opponents, his three children, grandchildren, and of course, Fred Brown – reveal everything you need to know about the gentle giant.

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Tom Jernstedt’s introduction to the Final Four came in 1973, when the then 29-year-old Director of Events helped championship Monday go prime time for the first time in its 35-year history.

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That year, blue blood schools Indiana and UCLA were paired opposite underdogs Providence and Memphis in what has become a hallmark of the tournament. The upstart school, led by a young but promising Hall of Fame caliber coach such as, say, Dave Gavitt, takes center stage alongside a wizard like John Wooden. And there you have it: Jernstedt’s First Dance.

Tom quietly choreographed that Dance for the next 37 seasons. He was always the voice of reason, the steady influence, the relationship guy. The movements and inner workings Tom devised, revised, and improvised changed the course of NCAA basketball forever.

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The world may never know all of the pranks and shenanigans Tommy Heinsohn played on teammates, opponents, broadcast partners, or the legendary coach of the Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach. Rest assured, there are too many to count.

For just as Tommy was an amazing player, and later an outstanding coach, and even later, a brilliant broadcaster, he was equally adept at the game of life.

A man of many interests, we may be tempted to judge that life solely by the basketball parts. After all, he gave more than 60 years to the Celtics.

But that would be to overlook his other interests. He sold life insurance in the offseason, found his passion and a talent for art at a young age, and kept his sense of humor for all 86 years of his life.

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The only thing smoother than KC Jones running the basketball court was KC Jones singing the sweet melodic tunes of a bygone era after-hours at a local haunt in any NBA city. Basketball he loved. Music he adored.

KC made up one half of the famous Jones Boys along with Celtics teammate Sam Jones. He teamed up with Bill Russell at the University of San Francisco for two NCAA national championships, Olympic gold, and finally eight NBA titles, the most successful amateur and professional run of any two teammates in history.

Years later, KC added two NBA championships as a coach, and yes, he was still a popular attraction during post game late night crooner sessions.

Did you know you can make a gift in honor/memory of your favorite Hall of Famer or loved one? A special way to celebrate their passion for the game.

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PAU L W E ST P H A L N OV E M B E R 3 0, 1 9 5 0 – JA N UA RY 2 , 2 0 2 1

Paul Westphal was a Southern California kid through and through, but when the Boston Celtics made the USC standout the 10th overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft, Westphal eagerly headed east to join the NBA’s most decorated franchise. Westphal joined a lineup that included a Big Red, a Jo Jo, a Satch, a Hondo, and a Nellie.

Finding his spot meant coming off the bench his first few seasons, but when the ambidextrous slasher was shipped back west to Phoenix, Westphal really hit his stride. For five consecutive seasons, the surefooted guard averaged over 20 points and five assists per game and was named All-League four seasons in a row. That he managed all this while building on his reputation as one of the finest in the game stands as testament to Paul the man.

JOHN CHANEY JA N UA RY 2 1 , 1 93 2 – JA N UA RY 2 9, 2 0 2 1

There were many sides to John Chaney. The raspy voice. The wide-eyed Owl patrolling the sidelines. The 6am practices. The staunch advocate for student-athletes. The post-game press conferences in full-on Rocky mode (ok, just that one time). These tough traits belied the warmth and tenderness of a coach who cared for his players like a father would his sons.

Chaney won a national championship at tiny Cheyney State in 1978 and then rebuilt the program at Temple University. Whatever the successes, or the number of wins, or lives touched, John was one of the best in the business at deflecting the attention on to those around him. He made everyone a part of his team, and he absolutely loved his team.

Temple Athletic Department

E LG I N B AY LO R SEPTEMBER 16, 1934 – MARCH 22, 2021

Elgin Baylor played basketball like no one before him. Several came later, like Connie Hawkins and Julius Erving, and countless players in today’s game. But there was only one original. And that was Elgin. He was the first player his size to play above the rim, and how he got to the paint was just as exciting as what he did when he left the floor to twist and turn his body for another two points.

Elgin was ahead of his time. There is no way to measure his impact on the game fully, but if you are a fan of how basketball is now played, then whether you know it or not, you are a fan of the great Elgin Baylor.

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ENSHRINEMENT NEWS

C L ASS O F 2 0 2 0 ENSHRINEMENT WEEKEND

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the Class of 2020. This incredible group of honorees will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. After a lengthy pause to help combat the pandemic, The Hall of Fame is excited to welcome everyone together under one roof for this incredible class. Our team of experts are working tirelessly with Mohegan Sun, The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Tribal Health Council to make this possible. Extensive protocols have been put in place to ensure that all our guests have a comfortable and enjoyable visit.

For the full list of scheduled events, broadcast details and protocols in place, please visit: www.hoophall.com/enshrinement

PATRICK BAUMANN* – Patrick Baumann greatly contributed to the game as a longtime FIBA executive and a member of the International Olympic Committee for more than 10 years. He initially joined FIBA in 1994, rising through the ranks and earning the title of Secretary General in 2002, a title he held until his untimely passing in 2018. He primarily focused on the youth sector and the expansion of 3x3 basketball as a global game, while developing programs and events to grow basketball worldwide. A native of Switzerland, Baumann held a number of positions on several esteemed sports councils and advisory boards and was a basketball player, coach and referee prior to joining FIBA. KOBE BRYANT* – Bryant was an 18-time NBA All-Star and 11-time All-NBA First Team selection. As an All-Star, he earned the Game’s MVP trophy four times.

He was also a five-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 2008 NBA MVP and Finals MVP twice.

He famously scored eighty one points in a single game, the secondmost in NBA history. Bryant led the NBA in total points for four seasons

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and ranks fourth on the NBA’s career points list with 33,643. Often celebrated for his offensive prowess, he was also a nine-time NBA AllDefensive First Team member. With USA Basketball, Bryant earned two Olympic gold medals.

TAMIKA CATCHINGS – Catchings is a 10-time WNBA All-Star and fourtime Olympic gold medalist. After winning WNBA MVP in 2011, she led the Indiana Fever to a WNBA Championship in 2012 while collecting WNBA Finals MVP honors. She played her entire 14-year WNBA career with the Fever, while being named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year five times and Rookie of the Year in 2002.

As the WNBA all-time steals leader, Catchings was named a member of the WNBA Top 20 Players in the league’s 20-year history in 2016. With Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols, Catchings won an NCAA Women’s National championship and was named a four-time Kodak First Team All-America, as well as the consensus National Player of the Year in 2000.

TIM DUNCAN - Duncan is a 15-time NBA All-Star and an eight- time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He is also a five-time NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs, having earned Finals MVP three times. In 2002 and 2003, he was named NBA MVP and in 1998 he won Rookie of the Year.

Duncan is the only player in NBA history with 1,000 or more wins with one team, which he amassed in his 19 years with the Spurs. He is ranked in the top 10 for NBA all-time rebounds and blocks leaders.

As a college athlete at Wake Forest, Duncan earned ACC Player of the Year and was a unanimous First Team All-America in 1996 and 1997.

In 1997, he also collected the Wooden, Naismith, Rupp, and Oscar Robertson Awards, while being named AP College Player of the Year.

KEVIN GARNETT – Garnett is a 15-time NBA All-Star and 2008 NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics and he is widely regarded for his passion and intensity on the court. A nine-time NBA AllDefensive First Team selection, he led the league in rebounds for four consecutive seasons and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.

While playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004, Garnett led the league in total points, field goals made and total rebounds while earning NBA MVP. He is ranked ninth in NBA’s all-time leaders for rebounds. With USA Basketball, Garnett earned an Olympic gold medal in 2000. Garnett played 21 NBA seasons and is currently ranked fourth in all-time minutes played with 50,418.

KIM MULKEY – Mulkey has led the Baylor Bears to three NCAA National Championships and ranks third all-time among head coaches in win percentage. In 2012, Mulkey was named the Consensus National College Coach of the Year earning the Naismith Coach of the Year, Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year,

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WBCA National Coach of the Year and USBWA National Coach of the Year.

As the head coach of Baylor since 2000, she has guided her team to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances including 13 Sweet Sixteens, eight Elite Eights and four Final Four appearances. Her Baylor squad has also won 10 Big 12 regular season championships and 10 Big 12 Tournament championships, earning her Big 12 Coach of the Year honors seven times.

Mulkey is the first person, male or female, to win a national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

EDDIE SUTTON* – Sutton was a four-time National Coach of the Year, eight-time Conference Coach of the Year and the first coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools in the NCAA Tournament. Sutton ranks in the top ten among Division I coaches in all-time victories and has recorded only one losing season in 37 years of coaching.

He coached Oklahoma State University from 1991-2006 and tied the conference record for wins by a firstyear coach with 24. Collectively, Sutton guided his teams to three Final Fours, six Elite Eights and 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances.

RUDY TOMJANOVICH – Tomjanovich spent 34 consecutive seasons with the Houston Rockets organization as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He was named The Sporting News NBA Coach of the Year in 1993.

He is the only person in NBA history to score 10,000 career points as a player and win 500 career games with two championships as a coach. Tomjanovich led the Rockets to NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 and is one of three coaches to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal. He led USA Basketball to a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

BARBARA STEVENS – Coaching in the collegiate ranks for over 40 years, Stevens is the fifth coach in NCAA women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career wins. She has been named the Russell Athletic / WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year five times and Northeast-10 Coach of the Year 15 times.

As the head coach of Bentley University since 1986, she has guided her team to 22 25-win seasons and 10 trips to the Division II Fab Four, including a national championship in 2014. Stevens was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. * Denotes Class Members Being Recognized Posthumously

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T H E J O H N W. B U N N L I F E T I M E AC H I E V E M E N T The John Bunn Award is named for the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee (1949-69). The award, which was instituted in 1973, was established by the Basketball Hall’s Board of Trustees to honor an international or national figure who has contributed greatly to the game of basketball. Outside of Enshrinement, the John Bunn Award is the most prestigious award presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ti m o t hy N u g e n t Founder of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association

C U RT G OW DY M E D I A AWA R DS The Curt Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the late Curt Gowdy, a legendary sports broadcaster and former Hall of Fame Board member and President. This series of awards is presented annually to members of the media whose longtime efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball.

PRINT & ELECTRONIC MEDIA AWA R D W I N N E R S M i c h a e l Wi l b o n & M i ke B re e n

M E D I A I N S I G H T AWA R D The first of two new awards for 2020, the Media Insight Award was established to honor an individual or organization that has consistently probed into salient issues and brought a unique, provoking and non-traditional perspective to fans, participants and consumers of sporting news.

J i m G ray T R A N S FO R M AT I V E M E D I A AWA R D The Transformative Media Award honors an individual or organization that has dramatically changed the format, presentation or enjoyment of the coverage of basketball through the use of traditional and emerging media. This Award recognizes those who have had a significant, fresh, and lasting impact on the format, content generation, fan enjoyment and understanding of the game.

T N T ’s I n s i d e t h e N B A featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith

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ENSHRINEMENT NEWS

T H E M A N N I E JAC KS O N - B AS K E T B A L L’ S H U M A N S P I R I T AWA R D

The Hall of Fame is proud to recognize Wayne Embry, George Raveling and Bill Russell as the 2020 recipients of The Mannie Jackson Basketball’s Human Spirit Award. These men have long been respected for their impact on the game as players, coaches and executives, and we are honored to celebrate them for their work as social justice trailblazers who paved the way for countless others.

Wayne Embry is a revolutionary sports executive as the first Black General Manager in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972 and the first Black President of any professional sports team.

He has been a prominent community activist and mentor in each city where he has lived and worked, while also serving as a board member and leader to numerous non-profits, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Miami University and USA Basketball. Embry has been honored with Miami University’s Distinguished Achievement Medal (2001), the Ohio Heritage Award for his contributions to the state (2013) and the Toronto Raptors’ Wayne Embry Fellowship Program. Embry has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1999), the Ohio College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006) and the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame (2013).

George Raveling is a civil rights pioneer dating back to the day he stood on the steps next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Raveling was the first Black coach hired by the Atlantic Coast Conference and the first Black head coach in the Pac 12.

He is a vocal advocate for the Black Coaches Association and a tremendous mentor to many

T H E AWA R D S W I L L B E P R E S E N T E D D U R I N G T H E 2 02 0 E N S H R I N E M E N T T I P O F F D I N N E R & AWA R D S G A L A .

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administrators, coaches and players. For more than 20 years, he has served as Nike’s Global Ambassador for the game, while also serving on the boards of USA Basketball, the NABC, the NCAA and the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Governors. Raveling has been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2013) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2015), as well as the Washington State, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Villanova and Black Coaches Association Halls of Fame.

Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships, and while his athletic achievements are astonishing, he has also been a prominent civil rights activist for more than half a century. As both a player and coach, he experienced countless racial injustices including segregation and mistreatment rooted in bigotry. He has always been vocal about his experiences and in 1963 he participated in the March on Washington. In 1966, he became the first Black head coach in major professional sports and in 1968 he became the first Black head coach to win an NBA championship. Russell is a recipient of the NBA’s National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award (2006) and the ESPY’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award (2019). Russell has been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1975). In 2010, President Obama awarded Russell the highest civilian honor, The Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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R E N O VAT I O N U P D AT E

T H E B U ZZ E R S O U N D S In 2015 The Hall of Fame embarked on a most ambitious and extensive effort - the “It’s Time to Step Forward” Capital Campaign. Significant funding was needed in order to bring the Museum and its exhibits into the digital age. And, as we shared in past editions, the effort of taking a project of this magnitude from initial concept all the way through to fruition is a painstaking and daunting effort. Not a single inch of the Museum was left untouched. Projects included redesigning more than 40,000 sq ft of exhibit space, expanding our curatorial storage capabilities and refinishing the exterior of the iconic dome.

It is with great pride that we announce that The Hall wrapped up its last exhibit project in time for the Class of 2020 Enshrinement Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort, from donors to our staff and vendors, we truly could not have done it without your dedication, commitment and leadership.

From interactive exhibits like “Together” by the NBPA and TNT’s Inside the NBA, to Galleries that celebrate key elements of the game, fans can see the evolution of the sport from its humble origins into the global phenomenon we all love.

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Throughout their visit fans will encounter a vast collection of artifacts and video exhibits. Within the Hall of Honor there are kiosks that provide on-demand content in which fans can learn as much detailed history as they desire on their favorite player, team or coach.

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M A R K E T I N G PA R T N E R S H OWC A S E

Since the early 1900’s, the Hillyard name has become synonymous with beautiful wood sports floors. When the company’s founder, Newton S. Hillyard, first developed a finish to take the place of early oil dressings, the whole complexion of indoor sports changed for the better.

Since that time Hillyard has grown into a full service cleaning solutions business. They have been working with the Basketball Hall of Fame for more than sixty years. While this longstanding relationship has always been appreciated by the Hall, the crisis in 2020 took that partnership to the next level.

The Hall of Fame worked exclusively with Hillyard to create a comprehensive cleaning program. A plan that took into consideration the best way to effectively kill the virus while maintaining the integrity of the surfaces being treated. It was one thing to think about how to disinfect 40,000 square feet of the Museum, but another to consider how those solutions could degrade the surfaces of our recently renovated Museum.

The wrong product selection could inadvertently cause hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Last spring, when supplies were in extremely limited supply, Hillyard was able to secure 25 automatic hand sanitizer stations, 2 backpack sprayers, hand towel dispensers, cases of hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, spray disinfectants, and more than 20,000 face masks.

These supplies were critical for the Hall of Fame. As a business that serves the pubic, our ability to provide a clean, safe and fun environment is paramount, and key to our success moving forward as the public gathering restrictions are lifted. We are immensely grateful to Hillyard for all they have done, and look forward to celebrating more milestones in the future!

THE “1891 GALLERY” CELEBRATES THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT. WITHIN THAT SPACE THE HALL OF FAME HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE HISTORY OF HILLYARD AND THE ROLE THEY PLAYED IN DEVELOPING THE GAME.

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S P OT L I G H T

G E O R G E K A L I N S KY

BY H A R V E Y A R ATO N

On the night he snapped what would become his most iconic basketball photo, George Kalinsky happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Truth be told, more out of personal interest than on professional instinct.

It was May 8, 1970, minutes before Game 7 of the NBA Finals, at Madison Square Garden. Inside the home-team locker room, Willis Reed was being injected with a rather large needle to numb the pain shooting down his right leg from an injury suffered in Game 5. While an anxious sellout crowd awaited word on Reed’s availability—along with his New York Knicks teammates and Wilt Chamberlain’s Los Angeles Lakers—Kalinsky left the court to check on the Knicks’ center and captain.

His good friend.

“I was more worried about Willis hurting himself permanently, about not being able to walk for the rest of his life,” said Kalinsky, who over five-plus decades has served as the Garden’s official photographer.

Just as he approached the locker room door, here came Willis in a famously stiff-legged gait. Like any smart journalist in the path of a historic momentin-the-making, Kalinsky stepped aside for the sake of recording it. Following Reed out of the tunnel to the court, he wound up with the defining shot of the night beyond the two jumpers Reed would hit to launch the Knicks blowout victory for the franchise’s first title.

Kalinsky’s photo—which has been on display in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame—would capture the hulking Reed advancing toward his relieved teammates on the layup line, the euphoric fans behind the baseline rising as one and even some of his competitors’ shooting Reed’s face but no others.

This was merely four nights after his intuitive habit of changing courtside positions had resulted in a gripping closeup of Reed’s face following his Game 5 fall, clenched in pain, resting on his outstretched right arm—another Kalinsky exclusive.

“I thought that would be my best photo of the year,” he recalled.

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It is one thing to be smiled upon by fate, quite another to have the vision and skill to maximize the opportunities good fortune presents. You might say it was at that providential intersection that Kalinsky’s photography career was born.

Already in his late 20s, married with children, he was chasing his artistic dream of being a sports and political cartoonist, while eschewing the invitation to go into the family furniture business in his native Hempstead, N.Y. On a winter vacation to Miami Beach, a camera dangling from his shoulder for the purpose of filling a family album, Kalinsky noticed the unmistakable Howard Cosell, alone on a street corner.

Kalinsky audaciously asked the ABC broadcasting star, whom he did not personally know, “What are you waiting for?”

“For the champ,” Cosell said, explaining he was about to accompany Muhammad Ali to a nearby training session for his just-announced 1967 fight against Ernie Terrell.

An Ali fan, Kalinsky talked his way into the session, claiming he was a Madison Square Garden photographer and wound up selling a photo to the Miami Herald. Having enjoyed masquerading as a professional photographer, Kalinsky proceeded to use the roll of film he had shot of Ali to land a freelance assignment from the Garden’s boxing department.

His foot in the door, it wasn’t long before he was a ubiquitous building fixture, the sharpest eye in the history of the so-called World’s Most Famous Arena.

Countless are the nights that Kalinsky brought to magnificent still life the famous stars of sports and entertainment stages—Ali to Jordan to LeBron; Sinatra to Lennon to Bruce. Among so many others, including a Pope.

Kalinsky’s work has been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. selected 18 of his photos for its permanent collection. He has been chosen by the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) as International Photographer of the Year. He has authored 10 books and had his work included in numerous others.

Diverse as his career has been, Kalinsky says there has been no place like home—the Knicks’ home court.

“The first time I ever walked out to shoot a game on the Garden floor, I actually looked down to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” he said. “That feeling has never left me and over the years I’ve probably shot three or four thousand photos of people standing on that court for the first time. I’ve tried to bring the same emotion to every one I’ve taken.”

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C E L E B R AT I N G T H E G A M E

During the 2021 Final Four weekend, the Basketball Hall of Fame revealed the winners for both the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five Award Winners. These are the top college players for both the Men’s and Women’s game in their position.

The Naismith Starting Five program helps celebrate the skills and talents of today’s college stars, while giving Hall of Famers the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the next generation of players.

The winners were determined by a combination of input from committees composed of top basketball personnel and over 136,000 votes cast over the course of the season via Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies.

M e n ’s 2 02 1 Awa rd Wi n n e r s Corey Kispert (Gonzaga, Sr.) - Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Luka Garza (Iowa, Sr.) - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Chris Duarte (Oregon, Sr.) - Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois, Jr.) - Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Drew Timme (Gonzaga, So.) - Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year “The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the best in the game, both men and women at every level,” said John Doleva, President & CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “This season has been a challenging one to say the least, and the sacrifices these student athletes have made is not lost on us. Today we honor them for their accomplishments and recognize them as our 2021 Men’s Naismith Starting Five.”

Wo m e n ’s 2 02 1 Awa rd Wi n n e r s

presented in partnership with the

Ashley Joens (Iowa St., Jr.) - Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Jr.) - Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Ashley Owusu (Maryland, So.) - Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Aliyah Boston (South Carolina, So.) - Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Paige Bueckers (Connecticut, Fr.) - Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year

“It’s been exciting to watch the popularity of the women’s game grow, and the athletic ability and star power of these award winners has a lot to do with it. Today we honor them for their accomplishments and recognize them as our 2021 Women’s Naismith Starting Five.”

A complete list of finalists can be found at www.HoophallAwards.com

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Congratulations to our 2021 Enshrinement Finalists!

RICK ADELMAN

LETA ANDREWS

CHRIS BOSH

MICHAEL COOPER

YOLANDA GRIFFITH

TIM HARDAWAY

LAUREN JACKSON

MARQUES JOHNSON

PAUL PIERCE

BILL RUSSELL

MARIANNE STANLEY

BEN WALLACE

CHRIS WEBBER

JAY WRIGHT

TUNE IN TO THE 2021 NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT Sunday, May 16th

Check Local Listings

Class of 2021 Enshrinement Weekend September 9-11, 2021 Visit www.hoophall.com/enshrinement for more info SPRING/SUMMER 2021

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T E A M WO R K

LEADERSHIP

D E T E R M I N AT I O N

I N I T I AT I V E

SELF-RESPECT

PERSEVERANCE

These are the life skills reinforced every day on the hardwood. Dr. Naismith knew what he was doing, when he invented the game that snowy day in 1891.

The Annual Fund provides the vital funds needed to maintain exhibits, expand our programs like 60 Days of Summer, support developing partnerships with regional youth programs and ensure that we meet our mission of promoting and preserving the game of basketball at every level - professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on an international level.

Through community outreach programs, engaging the hearts and minds of young visitors when they walk through the doors of our iconic museum or preserving memorabilia of the sports greatest athletes, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Annual Fund program is at the heart of all we do.

Make a tax deductible gift online at: GIVE.HOOPHALL.COM or mail your donation to: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1000 Hall of Fame Ave Springfield, MA 01105

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

A N OT E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

Greetings from Springfield So much has transpired since our last edition of Under the Dome. The experiences of 2020 tested our perseverance, bringing with it a renewed sense of purpose - to protect and preserve the history of this great game and its people. And while it seems expected to dwell on the challenges we overcame both as an organization and a collective of friends & family, I am more compelled to focus on the bright future here at the Hall of Fame.

By the time you read this, we will be embarking on the first of two Enshrinements scheduled for 2021. It is with much excitement and anticipation that we are welcoming everyone to Mohegan Sun. We have a full schedule of activities on tap that will appropriately celebrate the Class of 2020 in all its glory. This is long overdue and as outlined earlier in the edition, our Events Team has painstakingly created a weekend befitting these Inductees.

In April the last of the renovation projects were completed, just in time for the summer tourist season. The continued relaxation of Covid restrictions only serve to add to the feeling that it is finally time to welcome the fans back to the Hall. For those who have seen the transformation up to now have experienced it with wide-eyed wonder. Both fans and Hall of Famers alike are impressed by the history we have preserved, the stories we share and the nostalgia we celebrate.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. On September 9th, our Fall event season will kick off with the return to our regularly scheduled Enshrinement Weekend for the Class of 2021.

Following that, there is the Jerry Colangelo Golf Classic as well as several collegiate basketball tournaments in the pipeline. I encourage everyone to visit www.hoophall.com for the latest details and information on how to get more involved in supporting these fundraising efforts.

Thank you again for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

John L. Doleva President & CEO

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