Related Press - 19 of George Karl's first 21 games as an NBA coach ended in losses. When it was too chilly to venture outside in his native Chicago, Tim Hardaway would spend hours dribbling by himself in an unfinished basement. In a house fire in 1970, Theresa Grentz's family lost everything, leaving her with nothing save the yellow pajamas she wore.
They now belong to the most exclusive club in the game. On Saturday night, 13 individuals, including Karl, Hardaway, and Grentz, will be formally inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. These individuals were largely brought together by the obstacles they overcame on the way to a long list of achievements, which included NCAA titles, NBA titles, and Olympic gold medals.
Grentz remarked on Friday, "You grow from the difficulties. "Everything doesn't have to be perfect. Make the most of what you have rather than what you believe you need by taking what you have and making it work. We were in that situation, and although I had nothing, I was still going into the Hall of Fame tomorrow night.
Along with former NBA players Manu Ginobili and Tim Hardaway, late referee Hugh Evans, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, and Karl, the North American Committee chose five people in total.
The women's committee chose Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen, and Marianne Stanley. The contributor committee chose veteran coaches Del Harris, and Larry Costello, while the veteran's committee selected six-time All-Star Lou Hudson. Grentz was selected by the women's veteran committee and FIBA Hall of Famer Radivoj Korac by the international committee. Grentz played for the illustrious Immaculata program and led Rutgers to the final AIAW championship in 1982.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers, Karl's career as an NBA coach began in 1984. Despite a slow start and a 2-19 record, the Cavaliers recovered to meet Boston in the first round of the playoffs. Karl continues to think that the Celtics received favorable calls despite winning the series 3-1.
Could be. But Karl received Hall's call fifty years later.
During his coaching career, Harris worked with many future Hall of Famers, including Dirk Nowitzki, as well as Hall of Famers like Rick Barry, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Yao Ming, and Magic Johnson.
It's more humbling to me than anything I would have ever imagined to believe that I still, in some way, contributed to the game, in addition to simply playing or coaching it, said Harris.
Four other times, Hardaway was a finalist for the Hall, but he was never in. He didn't want to answer this year's call from Hall of Fame President and CEO John Doleva since he thought he was about to go 0 for 5.
Hardaway described that moment as "shaking, sweaty, and emotional." "I watched the Hall of Fame number arrive on my phone. I didn't want to accept another rejection, so I didn't want to answer the phone.
The 2002 UConn Huskies, a squad that featured Cash, were one of the first great teams Whalen, a four-time WNBA champion, experienced in person. Whalen is currently the coach at her alma mater Minnesota. Whalen wasn't unaware that Cash, Grentz, and Stanley, who also played at Immaculata before beginning a long coaching career, are also inducting her into the Hall of Fame.
Together, Whalen remarked, "Theresa, Marianne, and I symbolize a lot of what's been terrific with women's basketball through the years." And I believe young girls and women are watching us right now who, with hard work, can make our example a feasible goal and dream for themselves.
Her UConn coach, Geno Auriemma, is one of the five presenters Cash chose to attend the ceremony with her on Saturday.
According to Cash, a two-time NCAA champion, three-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and current front office member with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, "you wanted to be the best, and practices were always harder than a game." But it gave you the mental edge you needed to comprehend your goals. And the bar was a national championship every year. For some, the bar represents a conference title or "Hey, we made the tournament." While in Connecticut, banners are hung.
Wyatt "Sonny" Boswell, Inman Jackson, and Albert "Runt" Pullins, three individuals who were chosen by the Early African-American Pioneer Committee and who all, among other things, were members of the Harlem Globetrotters, are now also members of the Hall.
Huggins denied credit for his 916 career victories as a college coach, 844 of which were at the Division I level. Huggins, like Whalen, is now coaching at his alma university.
Good players, said, Huggins. "I've been lucky,"
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