The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mutombo named Hall finalist
Former Hawks center and top defender was an eight-time All-Star.
NEW YORK — The signature finger wag could be headed to the Hall of Fame.
Former Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo was named a finalist for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Mutombo, an eight-time All-Star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, played four-plus seasons with the Hawks from 1996-2001. He appeared in 343 games, all starts, and averaged 11.9 points and 12.6 rebounds with the Hawks. In his 18-year career, Mutombo also played for Nuggets, 76ers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets. He finished with 11,729 points, 12,359 rebounds and 3,289 blocks. He led the NBA in blocks five consecutive seasons, from 1994-98.
Mutombo called being a finalist for the Hall of Fame a “dream come true.”
Mutombo has been associated with one of the groups to have expressed interest in buying the Hawks and Philips Arena.
In addition to Mutombo, players Tim Hardaway, Spencer Haywood, Kevin Johnson and Jo Jo White, coaches John Calipari, Bill Fitch, Robert Hughes and Bo Ryan and referee Dick Bavetta were named finalists for the Men’s Screening Committee. Coach Leta Andrews and player Lisa Leslie were named finalists for the Women’s Screening Committee.
There were five direct-elects named by the Hall of Fame as initial members of the Class of 2015. They were Louie Dampier voted in from the American Basketball Association Committee, John Isaacs from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Lindsay Gaze from the International Committee, Tom Heinsohn from the Veterans Committee and George Raveling from the Contributor Direct Election Committee.
The Class of 2015 will be announced April 6 in Indianapolis before the NCAA men’s championship game. The enshrinement in Springfield, Mass., will be Sept. 10-11.
Four on the floor: Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who will lead the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game today, was asked several times whether he plans to play all four Hawks at the same time. So far, Budenholzer has managed to deflect the question.
He couldn’t any longer.
“If he didn’t do it, that would be messed up,” said Jeff Teague after practice Saturday. “We whisper some things in his ear.”
Paul Millsap added: “If he doesn’t do it, he’ll for sure hear about it.”
And so, being pressed one more time, Budenholzer relented.
“I guess I better do it,” Budenholzer said. “At some point it will probably happen. I think it’s a great honor for all four of them to be here together and for them to be on the court at one point just seems like it makes sense. Hopefully, I can figure out how to make that happen.”
It appears Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Millsap and Teague will get on the court at the same time. The only question that remains is who will play alongside them.