For any true athlete, making a mark on your sport is as important as fame or fortune. But among the thousands striving for this, only a few succeed. From those who do, a handful are annually selected to be included in the legendary Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Since its establishment in 1959, 401 basketball figures have been inducted. Most recently, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the
late Kobe Bryant have included the Class of 2020. This March, the Class of 2021’s finalists was announced. Here are five we predict will be part of the official enshrinement ceremony in September 2021.
Ben Wallace
The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year was an underdog in the beginning. Though he’s called Big Ben now, physically-speaking, he was smaller than other traditional centers. Considered by many as a shoo-in for the 2021 class, Sportskeeda.com puts Wallace in the Top 5 most deserving candidates. He’s considered one of the best defensive players of all time, with four NBA awards to prove it. After retirement, Wallace is now co-owner of the NBA G League’s Grand Rapids Drive.
Leta Andrews
The all-time winning high school coach has 1,416 wins under her name. At 83, she is still one of the most revered names in the sport. In fact, just last year she was immortalized in a Ripley’s Believe or Not! comic strip. Her leadership led her teams to 16 state-tournament appearances. To this day, nobody has beaten the national record she set with the Lady Pirates team. So historic are her achievements that she has membership in six halls of fame! A documentary about her life was also released in 2017 to much fanfare.
Paul Pierce
Nicknamed “The Truth” by none other than Shaquille O’Neal, Paul Pierce enjoyed 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Before retiring in 2017, Paul was considered the face of the famous franchise. During his time, he was an NBA Finals MVP and a 10-time NBA All-Star. Aside from his obvious talents on the court, Paul is also a recognized poker player. In fact, Poker.org included him in their list of notable athletes who are also poker stars. In 2014, he took part in the WSOP Main Event just missing out on the prize money. Although he may not be winning big off the court, Pierce has a very good chance of getting inducted into the 2021 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Yolanda Griffith
Considered one of the cornerstones of women’s basketball today, Yolanda’s life was never easy. As a young mother, she had to manage several jobs while also putting in time on the court. But her standout capabilities were easy to notice. Soon, she was considered the unofficial ambassador of the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs. At the time of her retirement in 2009, she was a seven-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She’s considered one of the greats, with TheDelite.com ranking her 18th in their list of the best players in the WNBA’s storied history.
Bill Russell
Another Celtics alum, Bill Russell was making history since Day 1. As the NBA’s first Black head coach, Russell has five MVP awards, 12 All-Star appearances, and a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Arguably, his biggest achievement is leading the Boston Celtics to 11 championships over 13 seasons. During his active years, Bill was also a tireless activist against racism. In the 2019 ESPYS, he received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. It’s given to those who “stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.” Many fellow luminaries, including former US President Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar consider him an inspiration in their own lives.
No matter the differences between the candidates for the Class of 2021, their exemplary perseverance is the same. Despite insurmountable odds, they channeled their talents to better themselves and their sport.
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