Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups headline the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s 14 finalists for the class of 2024, as announced at NBA’s All-Star weekend on Friday night.
Carter played in the NBA for 22 years, spending time with seven different teams while making eight all-star games in that span, all as a member of the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets. The longtime guard is perhaps best known for his 2000 dunk contest performance, but he finished his career in the top 25 of points scored all time.
“Unbelievable,” Carter said, via ESPN. “I loved to play, more than anything. It wasn’t about the numbers. I was asked probably five years prior to retiring, ‘Why are you still playing? You’re killing your average.’ And I said, ‘But I still love to play.’ And that’s what mattered.”
Billups, the current Portland Trail Blazers coach, had a 17-year career for seven different teams. He was a key player on the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 championship team and made five All-Star games in his career.
Six other finalists were named for their NBA contributions, including legendary New York Knicks guard Dick Barnett, longtime Los Angeles Lakers forward Michael Cooper, former player and coach Doug Collins, Phoenix Suns all-time leading scorer Walter Davis, Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and Los Angeles Clippers executive Jerry West, who was inducted as a player in 1980.
Representing the WNBA is former Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus and former Phoenix Mercury guard Michele Timms, while former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan and former Kansas women’s coach Marian Washington represent college basketball.
Rounding out the finalists are Harley Redin, who coached both men’s and women’s basketball at Wayland Baptist University, and longtime high school coach Charles Smith.
The Class of 2024 will officially be announced at the Final Four in Phoenix, while the enshrinement will take place over the Summer.
