Before the 2024-25 NBA season gets underway, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will welcome its newest class of inductees.
This year's Hall of Fame class is headlined by a pair of first-ballot selections in Vince Carter and Seimone Augustus, who enter the Hall four years after the end of their respective careers.
In total, 13 important basketball figures will be inducted this year, including a pair of NBA champions (Chauncey Billups and Michael Cooper) and two legendary coaches (Bo Ryan and Charles Smith).
While already in the Hall of Fame as a player, Lakers legend Jerry West will enter as a contributor in 2024 along with two other notable names. Learn more about this year's Hall of Fame class, including more on the contributions that led to a selection.
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Meet the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame class
North American inductees
Chauncey Billups, G, 1997-2014
- NBA teams: Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Pistons, Knicks, Clippers
- All-Stars: 5 | All-NBA nods: 3
- NBA championships: 1 | 2004 NBA Finals MVP
- Draft: First round, 1997, No. 3 overall from Colorado
It took some time for Billups to find his footing in the NBA but he soon lived up to the potential he showed as a prospect. Known for his propensity to hit big shots, Billups-led teams made six straight conference Finals from 2003-08, with the Pistons winning a championship in 2004.
Vince Carter, G/F, 1998-2020
- NBA teams: Raptors, Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Kings, Hawks
- All-Stars: 8 | All-NBA nods: 2 | Olympic gold medal: 1
- Draft: First round, 1998, No. 5 overall from North Carolina
Half-Man/Half-Amazing was first used to describe Carter's logic-defying dunks and later to describe a 22-year career that defied time. Carter's career included several acts, beginning as one of the league's most popular stars and ending as his final team's favorite vet.
Michael Cooper, G, 1978-1991
- NBA team: Lakers
- All-Defensive Team nods: 8 | 1987 Defensive Player of the Year
- NBA championships: 5
- Draft: Third round, 1978, No. 60 overall from New Mexico
A Laker lifer, Cooper played a key role in each championship of the Showtime Era. Cooper was the defensive stopper, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
Walter Davis, G/F, 1977-1992
- NBA teams: Suns, Nuggets, Trail Blazers
- All-Stars: 6 | All-NBA nods: 2 | 1978 Rookie of the Year | Olympic gold medal: 1
- Draft: First round, 1977, No. 5 overall from North Carolina
- Suns all-time leading scorer with 15,666 points
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Davis starred at UNC before he was a top-five pick in the NBA Draft. He immediately took the league by storm, earning Second Team All-NBA honors as a rookie, setting the tone for an accomplished 15-year career.
Bo Ryan, Coach, 1984-2016
- Teams: UW-Platteville Pioneers, Milwaukee Panthers, Wisconsin Badgers
- 4x Big Ten Coach of the Year
- 551-394 (.715) Division I record | 15 NCAA Division I Tournament appearances | Two Final Fours
After leading UW-Platteville to four Division III titles, Ryan moved to Division I, finding success at UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin. As coach of the Badgers, Ryan won three Big Ten Tournaments and came one win away from a DI title in 2015.
Charles Smith, Coach, 1971-2023
- Team: Peabody Magnet (La.) HS
- 1,208-214 (.850) record | 9 LHSAA state titles
- 2010 ESPN National Coach of the Year | 2020 McDonald's All-American Game coach
Smith is one of the most accomplished coaches in Lousiana high school basketball history. Over 50-plus seasons, he led Peabody to nine state titles and coached 2014 NBA Draft pick Markel Brown.
Women's Committee inductees
Seimone Augustus, G/F, 2006-2020
- WNBA teams: Minnesota Lynx, Los Angeles Sparks
- All-Stars: 8 | All-WNBA nods: 6
- WNBA championships: 4 | 2011 WNBA Finals MVP | Olympic gold medals: 3
- Draft: First round, 2006, No. 1 overall from LSU
Augustus is one of the greatest players of all time. After repeating as National Player of the Year during her final two years at LSU, Augustus was the first pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, winning Rookie of the Year honors before embarking on a 14-year career that included four titles.
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Contributor inductees
- Doug Collins
- Herb Simon
- Jerry West
Men's Veteran's inductee
- Dr. Dick Barnett
Women's Veteran's inductee
- Harley Redin
International inductee
- Michele Timms
