Paul Pierce will get a chance to join other Boston Celtics greats in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame next year. Pierce was revealed as one of the first-time nominees for the Hall of Fame induction on Tuesday and joins the group that also consists out of 1973’s No.1 pick Doug Collins, Seattle Storm legend Lauren Jackson and five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper.
Other nominees include coaches Howard Garfinkel, Lou Henson, first WNBA president Val Ackerman, and former WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith.
The first-time nominees will be joined by a group of returning candidates, including members of the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 championship team Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace, two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh, and current San Antonio Spurs’ assistant Becky Hammon.
Pierce played 15 seasons with the Celtics, leading the franchise to an NBA Title in 2008 and winning the NBA Finals MVP award. He is the franchise’s second-leading scorer and has made 10 All-Star appearances as a Celtic.
Collins is being recognized for both his playing career and work as a coach. He earned four All-Star nods as a player while coaching Chicago Bulls to conference finals in 1988/89.
Jackson played 11 years in WNBA with Storm, leading the franchise to two titles. She also won three WNBA MVP awards and made the All-Star team seven times.
Cooper spent his entire NBA career with LA Lakers, where he was a significant bench contributor in the Showtime Lakers era. He also worked as a coach in WNBA, winning two titles with Los Angeles Sparks.
