Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm  |  77 responses

Reggie Miller, Don Nelson, Ralph Sampson Headline 2012 Hall of Fame Class


The 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame Class was announced today, and save for one glaring snub, there weren’t too many surprises. The Enshrinement gala will take place the weekend of September 6-8: “The inductees include five-time NBA All-Star Reggie Miller, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach Don Nelson, three-time National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, two-time Olympic gold medalist Katrina McClain, distinguished basketball official and coordinator Hank Nichols, former college and NBA star Jamaal Wilkes and the first women’s professional basketball team, the All American Red Heads. They join the five directly elected members who were announced during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February by distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game of basketball. These direct-elects include Mel Daniels voted in from the American Basketball Association (ABA) Committee, Don Barksdale from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Lidia Alexeeva from the International Committee, Chet Walker from the Veterans Committee and Phil Knight from the Contributor Direct Election Committee. […] To be elected, finalists required 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Starting last year, the addition of the direct elect committees were incorporated into the election process to maintain a strong focus on keeping history on the forefront of the voting procedures and to preserve a balance between two eras of basketball. ‘The Class of 2012 is a true representation of the game of basketball, reaching all levels within the sport,’ said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. “We are pleased with the changes to the voting process by adding the direct elects and the impact it will make on recognizing the game’s true ambassadors into the future.’”

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  • Reeld

    @Dennisthemenace
    Like I said his playoff experience and his numbers speak for itself, since when did 8seconds= 18 seasons and only missing the playoffs three times, two of which were in his first two seasons. I’m not gone preach all his playoff and ucla stats to u cuz that’s what basketball reference and NBA.com is for I suggest u do a little research.Bernard king shoulda been in the Hall long ago, but u can’t deny Reggie has had an amazing career. Furthermore how many of the guys on ur list have more than 25,000points, and held the three point record for threes all-time(tillrayallen brook it). It sounds like u watched just 8seconds of his career, cuz if u follow it n watch basketball there should be no arguments.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    well deserved, congrats to all of them. Always was a reggie fan.

  • so

    well if reggie got in then joe johnson is a lock for a future hof selection

  • blakos

    Bernard King has done somebody wrong. Thats for real

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    ok yeah nbk… but still lol

  • Dennisthemenace

    reeid,
    Reggie’s career = getting his number retired by the Pacers. That’s it. He shot threes and free throws. Didn’t defend, couldn’t finish in the paint. He was only an All-Star for 25% of his career and his career peaked when he made Third Team All NBA. So coaches and media voters rarely thought he was worthy. He’s an all-time great and he had an allstar career. He just shouldn’t be a Hall of Famer.

  • deadbored

    Based on what Durant has done for OKC and the criteria for the MVP, yes he may have a chance. If this is an argument about who is having a better year and you dont think its LBJ, then im sorry but you really dont know basketball.

  • Reeld

    @Dennisthemenace
    You forgot that he’s second in all-time UCLA scoring (1st is Kareem), he has the record for most regular season league points in UCLA history, he also scored a school record 33 in one half. And he owns the schools free throw record.He also is an Olympic Gold medalist.(1996)and a world champion (FIBA 1994, was the second leading scorer on the U.S squad behind shaq)he’s a 5 time allstar who played in the Jordan era, and greatness is more than just allstar games (ask yao ming). By the way the allstar game is in February not April, May or June. I suggest you look up his playoff resume, and numbers and judge by that, bcuz the panel of Hall of Fame Voters thought he was worthy enough.

  • Reeld

    oh and how many players have more than 25,000 pts? and how many are in the hall of fame?

  • deadbored

    Oh and reggie was also the leading 3 ponit shooter in the history of the NBA for a good while and one of the best clutch players. Thats probably part of the appeal.

  • Justin G.

    The bar just got set REEEEAL low with the induction of Reggie Miller and Ralph Sampson. As has been mentioned, you just know Mitch Richmond perked up from his sofa when this news came out. 5 asg in 17 years is an accomplishment for a Hall of Famer? How did Paul Westphal not get in then? And whomever said Ralph Sampson is the greatest college player of all time, Kareem would like a word with you.

  • deadbored

    @justin G. i agreed with you on another post but ^^^^ what you just said, its RIDICULOUS!

  • DukeFromDeep

    Anyone care to elaborate what the hell happened to Ralph Sampson’s NBA career? Dude was awesome in college, and didn’t he win an all-star MVP? What the hell happened???

  • DukeFromDeep

    Y’all are crazy if you think Reggie doesn’t deserve to be there. Reggie was (among other things) clutch and a damn assassin at the 3. Mitch Richmond, Puhleeze…

  • …

    theres needs to be an nba hof, next thing you know oj mayo is going to get inducted for his aau career…

  • Moosa

    Until recently, all-time leading three point shooter ever. That’s enough. That’s his ticket right there. And Sampson’s college career is undisputed. Three straight college player of the year awards. And yes, Laettner will be, and deserves to be, inducted at some point. One of the most dominant college players ever. In basketball. As in The Basketball Hall of Fame. Not the NBA Hall of Fame. Yes, there are snubs like Bernard, totally agree. But that doesn’t mean guys like Sampson and Reggie shouldn’t get their due. Chick Hearn and Johnny Most are in the Hall of fame for their contributions to THE GAME, never played a minute in the NBA. It’s about The Game, not the NBA. I would have liked a separate NBA Hall of Fame too, but that doesn’t exist. If you don’t think the above mentioned guys deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, you need to do your homework

  • Justin G.

    @deadbored…If you’re talking about the Paul Westphal thing I hope you realize I was being sarcastic (even though he was a nominee). If it was about Ralph Sampson vs. Kareem, well let’s examine that. While Sampson had some decent numbers averaging 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.5 assists (ouch), Kareem averaged 26.4 ppg and 15.5 rebounds. Now, they didn’t keep track of blocks and assists back then but I don’t think there’s much doubt his blocks would be in the 2-3 per game as well. He won Player of the Year twice, tournament player of the year in all three tournaments he played in (all wins btw) and led his team to an 88-2 record while he was there. Soooo…I don’t think the statement is that ridiculous at all. Hell they even banned the dunk because he was so dominant. Case closed and thanks for coming out

  • random

    REGGIE=YES, RALPH SAMPSON=NO

  • jay

    Mitch Richmond is already writing a speech and renting a tux after this year’s announcements. If Mitch had more of a personality he’d already be inducted apparently.

  • jay

    “The toughest player I ever had to guard was Mitch Richmond.” —Michael Jordan.
    .
    i’ll easily take Mitch over Reggie. All NBA 2nd Team -3x, All NBA 3rd Team -2x, one gold medal, NBA Rookie of the Year, 6x AllStar, 21ppg (even after hanging on 2 years too long). I won’t even count Mitch’s ring with LA since he was past his prime.

  • jay

    and throw in 1x AllStar MVP and the cover of NBA LIVE’97 just for effect! :D

  • Peter

    Ralph Sampson should not be in the HOF. In college, the only championship he won was the NIT. In the NCAA one final four and one elite 8. Over Rated and not worth of HOF Status.

  • Rainman

    First of all, this is a BASKETBALL hall of fame, not an NBA hall of fame…so Sampson deserves his spot.I do agree King got snubbed, but… Secondly im willing to fight anyone that says REggie Miller isnt deserving, or that Richmond is better than he was. Physically. To the Death.

  • Rainman

    “he’s an all time great” but doesnt deserve to be in the HOF?…GTFOH.

  • deadbored

    @ justin G. i was really just talking about you including Reggie at the beginning of that paragraph. Ralph Sampson really could go either way but considering Bernard King got snubbed then i can understand that people are cycnical about the inductees.

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    Reggie Miller is the 3rd best shooting guard of all time.
    His induction confirms it.
    As for Sampson…
    He was THE first of his kind.
    Period.
    Kevin Garnett Sr.

  • Justin G.

    Philosopher, let me get this right. You have Reggie Miller third behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant on the list of all time shooting guards? Miller was better than Wade? Or Drexler? Really? Someone put on a pot of coffee, he needs to sober up

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