Every year, le Hall of Fame opens its doors and new basketball legends are inducted. But we can still ask ourselves the following question: among all the cuvées that have been honored, which is the best class in history?
Since the late 1950s, the Hall of Fame welcomes basketball stars to Springfield, Massachusetts.
An annual ceremony which sees several big names being congratulated, and which makes many tears flow.
But of all the cuvées, which is the greatest? Here is a small selection, among the most fulfilled of all time.
# The 2016 vintage of the Hall of Fame
(ESPN)
The main members of this cuvée:
- Allen Iverson
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Yao Ming
- Sheryl Swoopes
- Tom Izzo
- Jerry Reinsdorf
Allen Iverson and Shaq, in terms of speech and icons of the game we are at the top: two of the 30 best players in history.
Add to that Yao Ming, the huge Sheryl Swoopes, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Bulls boss Jerry Reinsdorf, and you have a class to choose from.
# The 2009 vintage of the Hall of Fame
(Associated Press)
The main members of this cuvée:
- Michael Jordan
- John Stockton
- David Robinson
- Jerry Sloan
When Michael Jordan is present, his cuvée is necessarily high ranked, right?
Well accompanied, Jordan was entitled to John Stockton and David Robinson at his side, two of the best players in their position in history.
Jerry Sloan as a bonus, given the longevity of his coaching in Utah, it is an exceptional class.
# The 2020 vintage of the Hall of Fame
(NBA.com)
The main members of this cuvée:
- Kobe Bryant
- Tim Duncan
- Kevin Garnett
- Rudy Tomjanovich
- Tamika Catchings
- Patrick Baumann
Immense sadness at the absence of Kobe (RIP), and in a special ceremony because in the middle of COVID.
With Duncan, the Mamba and Kevin Garnett, we have three of the 40 best players in history… to which we add the legendary Rockets coach, Rudy T?
Patrick Baumann for the FIBA touch, Tamika Catchings to represent the WNBA, more complete than this vintage is impossible.
# The 2010 vintage of the Hall of Fame
(NBAE)
The main members of this cuvée:
- Karl Malone
- Scottie Pippen
- Dennis Johnson
- Dr Jerry Buss
- La Dream Team 1992
- Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
The most legendary owner in the entire NBA, with Malone and Pippen in the lot?
The most mythical photo remains that of the 1992 Dream Team, gathered to enter the Hall of Fame together.
# The other great cuvées
Below, other equally huge cuvées that could squat the podium!
Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Tina Thompson et Dino Radja…
Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley, Dick Vitale, Adrian Dantley…
Magic Johnson, Larry Brown, les Harlem Globetrotters, Drazen Petrovic…
Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Joe Dumars, Geno Auriemma