Lobo among 11 named to Naismith Hall
Two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self, former Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Krause and former UConn star Rebecca Lobo are part of this year's Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class.
The Hall of Fame announced the 11-person class Saturday.
Lobo starred for the Huskies when they won a national championship in 1995 following an undefeated season and was also an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA in 1996. She ended her professional career with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.
Lobo said she was surprised and excited by her inclusion into the Hall of Fame and thought about her mother, who died in 2011.
"This just would have been something she dreamed of a lot more than I ever did," Lobo said. "But I know she's happy and I knew she was happy then, and just a very gratifying feeling."
McGrady — who went straight to the NBA from high school — was a seven-time All-Star who played 15 years in the league. He had his best years with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets before injuries limited his effectiveness.
He led the league in scoring while playing for the Magic in both the 2002-03 and '03-04 seasons. At 37, McGrady is the youngest in this year's class.
"I did get emotional. I did start crying, I'll tell you that," McGrady said. "I was trying to call my wife once I got off the phone, but my eyes were so watery and I was so nervous I was opening up every app on my phone but the right one to make a call."
Self is one of six coaches to lead three different schools to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight and led the Jayhawks to a national championship
in 2008.
"The thing that I think hit me the soonest was the journey," Self said about receiving the Hall of Fame call. "And certainly how many people have played a significant role in helping me and putting me in a position. And the more I thought about that, the list just grows and grows and grows. And certainly very humbled by it."
Krause, who died last month at 77, was the general manager during the Chicago Bulls' dynasty in the 1990s. He was a two-time NBA executive of the year and responsible for surrounding star Michael Jordan with the pieces that helped create two championship three-peats.
"I know this would have meant the world to Jerry. It only further validates his legacy and what we all knew about his body of work with the Bulls," Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
Others in the class include Notre Dame women's coach Muffet McGraw, Texas high school coach Robert Hughes, former NCAA executive Tom Jernstedt, Harlem Globetrotters player, owner and CEO Mannie Jackson, former Globetrotters player Zack Clayton, former European star Nikos Galis and former NBA and ABA star George McGinnis.