Gary Payton, Bernard King headline Basketball Hall of Fame 2013 class
The 2013 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class. (Jennifer Pottheiser/Getty Images)
By Ben Golliver
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its class of 2013 on Monday, with former NBA stars Gary Payton and Bernard King serving as the headliners.
The full group: Payton, King, UNC women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell, longtime Houston coach Guy Lewis, Louisville coach Rick Pitino, former WNBA player Dawn Staley and UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian.
The group will be inducted in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 8 after being selected from a field of 12 finalists that was announced during All-Star weekend back in February.
The NBA will also induct five Direct Elect recipients from various committees: Dr. E.B. Henderson (Early African American Pioneers), Roger Brown (ABA), Oscar Schmidt (International), Richard Guerin (Veterans) and Russ Granik (Contributor).
The Curt Gowdy Media Award winners were: Eddie Doucette (electronic) and John Feinstein (print). The Bunn Lifetime Achievement award went to George Raveling.
Spencer Haywood, who believed he had been inducted, was not included among this year's list of inductees.
Here's a look at the 2013 class.
Former Sonics guard Gary Payton. (Andrew D. Berntsein, Getty Images)
Gary Payton
Known as "The Glove" for his defensive prowess, Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. He was an All-NBA First Team selection in both 1998 and 2000 and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996. The two-time Olympic gold medalist (1996 and 2000) ended his NBA career ranking fourth all-time in steals (2,445) and eighth in assists (8,966). He won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. Prior to the NBA, Payton was the Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year in 1990 while at Oregon State and holds the school's all-time marks for points, assists and steals.
Former Knicks star Bernard King. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Bernard King
King is a four-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA First-Team selection, NBA All-Rookie Team selection and was the NBA Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., he was a First Team All-America at the University of Tennessee before an NBA career that included stints with the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Washington Bullets. He averaged over 22 points per game during his 15-year career including a 34.8 points per game average in the 1984 NBA playoffs.
UNC women's coach Sylvia Hatchell. (Lance King/Getty Images)
Sylvia Hatchell
Hatchell recently became just the third Division I women's coach to win 900 career games and the only coach in history to win national championships at three different levels (AIAW, NAIA and NCAA). Since taking over at the University of North Carolina in 1986, she has led the Tar Heels to three NCAA Final Fours, eight ACC championships and the 1994 national championship. She is a three-time National Coach of the Year (1994, 2006 and 2008) and three-time ACC Coach of the Year. She has led her teams to seven 30-win seasons and twenty-eight 20-win seasons. In international competition, she was an assistant coach for the 1988 Olympic gold medal team and a part of four World University Games.
Longtime Houston coach Guy Lewis. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Guy Lewis
Lewis led his University of Houston program to five NCAA Final Four appearances (1967, 1968, 1982, 1983 and 1984) and nearly 600 wins during his 30 years as head coach. He won National Coach of the Year honors in 1968 and 1983. A graduate of the school in 1947, he began as an assistant coach in 1953 until he took over four years later. His tenure included 14 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Sweet Sixteen appearances and registered three 30-win seasons. During his career, he coached 29 future NBA players including Elvin Hayes, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, all current Hall of Famers.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Rick Pitino
Pitino is the only coach in men's history to lead three different schools to NCAA Final Four appearances as he did with Providence College, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. He led Kentucky to the 1996 national championship and then reached the title game again with the Wildcats the following year. He has won over 600 games in his collegiate career, reached the Final Four six different times (1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2005 and 2011), led his teams to 21 postseason appearances and won nine conference tournament championships. He earned Coach of the Year honors from different sources three different years. Pitino also held two stints as an NBA head coach with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, leading the Knicks to two playoff appearances.
Former WNBA star Dawn Staley. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)
Dawn Staley
As one of the most decorated players in women's basketball history, Staley was a three-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000 and 2004), five-time WNBA All-Star and two-time National College Player of the Year (1991-92). She was named the USA Basketball Female Player of the Year in 1994 and went on to begin her professional career as a two-time ABL All-Star (1997 and 1998). As a collegiate player, Staley was a three-time Kodak All-America selection (1990-92) at the University of Virginia and she still holds the NCAA career record for steals (454). She led the Cavaliers to three NCAA Final Four appearances and was named NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1991. She is the only player in women's college basketball history to record 2,000 points, 700 assists and 400 steals.
Former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian. (Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
Jerry Tarkanian
Known as one of the most passionate coaches in the game of basketball, Tarkanian recorded 990 wins during his career with an 81 percent winning percentage that included leading the University of Nevada-Las Vegas to four NCAA Final Four appearances (1977, 1987, 1990 and 1991) and the 1990 NCAA championship. During his career, he led three different schools to NCAA tournament appearances (UNLV, Fresno State and Long Beach State), including 21 postseason appearances, 14 NCAA tournaments, 13 Sweet Sixteen appearances, seven Elite Eights, 17 conference championships and four 30-plus win seasons. Tarkanian is a four-time National Coach of the Year (1977 Kodak; 1983 UPI; 1984, 1990 Basketball Times). At the junior college level, he still owns the highest winning percentage of all-time at .891. He has coached 44 future NBA prospects including 12 first-round draft picks. Off the court, he was the recipient of the Roy Campanella Humanitarian Award and the Dream a Dream Foundation Inspiration Award -- the only basketball coach to receive the award.
