Times-Call (Longmont)

Global trio among Hall of Fame finalists

- By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY >> Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich are all one step closer to basketball immortalit­y.

The three internatio­nal greats — Gasol, Nowitzki and Parker — were among the list of Class of 2023 finalists unveiled Friday by the Basketball Hall of Fame, putting them on the doorstep of enshrineme­nt this summer. Also on that list: Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history with the San Antonio Spurs, and Dwyane Wade, part of three championsh­ip teams with the

Miami Heat.

“It’s really about the journey,” Gasol said. “These type of recognitio­ns, which are an amazing honor, they come along when you do things very, very well for a long time and when you love what you do. I’m just privileged to have played the game for so long, at a high level, with amazing people who taught me so much.”

Also making the finalist cut were four selections from the Women’s Committee — 1990 national player of the year, Olympic champion and world champion Jennifer Azzi; six-time WNBA All-star and WNBA championsh­ipwinning coach Becky Hammon; and longtime coaches Gary Blair and Marian Washington.

The other finalists from the North American Committee include Gene Bess, believed to be the all-time collegiate coaching wins leader with 1,300 to his credit; two-time Division III national champion David Hixon; and seven-time Big Ten coach of the year Gene Keady.

“I love the class. I think this is a loaded class,” Hall of Fame Chairman Jerry Colangelo said.

Colangelo said it’s unusual for finalists to get this far in their first year on the ballot. Wade, Popovich,

Gasol, Parker, Nowitzki and more got this far in their first opportunit­y.

“The Class of 2023 will be remembered as one of the most distinguis­hed classes the Hall of Fame will ever see, and we are extremely excited for this unparallel­ed collection of talent and achievemen­t to be one step closer to Springfiel­d,” Colangelo said.

Hall of Famers get an orange jacket to commemorat­e their enshrineme­nt. Wade said he’s dreamed of wearing one, noting that he’s now “one step closer.”

“A young Dwyane Wade never would have thought this moment would be here,” Wade said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States