The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed a remarkable group of inductees on Saturday in Springfield, Massachusetts. Among them were basketball luminaries Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, celebrated for their extraordinary individual careers. This distinguished class also included coach Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, and veteran NBA referee Danny Crawford.
Carmelo Anthony, a pure scorer forged on the tough playgrounds of Brooklyn and Baltimore, was met with «Melo! Melo!» chants as he took the stage. Visibly emotional, Anthony reflected on his journey, stating, «Tonight, I just don’t step into the Hall of Fame, I carry the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t… I had to build a new road. I had to write a new ending.» Despite not winning an NBA championship, Anthony emphasized his profound contributions to the game.
Dwight Howard, known for his dominance and playful demeanor, delivered a heartfelt speech, acknowledging his mother`s perseverance through seven miscarriages before his birth. «I’m just honored to stand in front of you as one of the greatest basketball players ever,» he declared, paying tribute to legendary centers like Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Howard concluded with an inspiring message to his children about chasing dreams.
A historic moment saw three WNBA icons – Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles – inducted in the same year. Bird shared her improbable journey from aspiring professional soccer or basketball player in high school, noting, «There was no logical place for a kid like me.» Moore, known for her collegiate and WNBA triumphs, dedicated her post-basketball life to social justice and the wrongful conviction of her husband. She challenged the new generation to find joy and connection, urging them to promote change. Fowles was pivotal in Moore’s WNBA championships, and all three shared Olympic gold medals.
Anthony and Howard were also honored as members of the legendary 2008 «Redeem Team,» which secured Olympic gold in Beijing after previous disappointments. LeBron James recalled Kobe Bryant`s leadership on that team, while coach Mike Krzyzewski highlighted their dual mission: to win gold and reclaim national respect.
Micky Arison, in his speech, joked with LeBron James about the Miami Heat`s championship successes, referencing James` famous «not one, not two…» prediction, noting, «I guess it was just two.»
Basketbol afsonalari sharaflanmoqda: Entoni, Xovard va Mur Shon-sharaf zaliga kirdilar
Shanba kuni Massachusets shtatining Springfild shahrida Naismith Memorial Basketbol Shon-sharaf zali o`zining yangi a`zolarini kutib oldi. Ular orasida basketbol yulduzlari Karmelo Entoni, Duayt Xovard, Syu Bird, Maya Mur va Silviya Fouls bor edi, ular o`zlarining ajoyib faoliyatlari uchun sharaflanganlar. Ushbu mashhur toifaga murabbiy Billi Donovan, «Mayami Xit» jamoasining bosh hamkori Mikki Arison va tajribali NBA hakami Denni Krouford ham kirdi.
Bruklin va Baltimordagi qiyin maydonlarda shakllangan sof to`purar Karmelo Entoni sahnaga chiqishi bilan «Melo! Melo!» hayqiriqlari bilan kutib olindi. Ko`rinib turganidek, Entoni o`zining hissiy nutqida shunday dedi: «Bugun men faqat Shon-sharaf zaliga qadam qo`ymayapman, balki menga qila olmaysan degan har bir ovozning aks-sadolarini olib kelyapman… Men yangi yo`l qurishim, yangi yakun yozishim kerak edi.» NBA chempionligini qo`lga kiritmagan bo`lsa-da, Entoni o`yin uchun qilgan buyuk hissasini ta`kidladi.
O`zining ustunligi va o`ynoqi xarakteri bilan tanilgan Duayt Xovard samimiy nutq so`zlab, onasining yetti marta farzandini yo`qotganidan keyin uni dunyoga keltirganini esladi. «Men sizning oldingizda eng buyuk basketbolchilardan biri sifatida turganimdan faxrlanaman,» dedi u Bill Rassell va Karim Abdul-Jabbar kabi afsonaviy markazchilarga hurmat bajo keltirib. Xovard nutqini farzandlariga orzulariga erishish haqidagi ilhomlantiruvchi xabar bilan yakunladi.
Tarixiy lahza – uchta WNBA afsonasi – Syu Bird, Maya Mur va Silviya Fouls – bir yilda shon-sharaf zaliga kirdi. Bird o`zining yuqori maktabda professional futbolchi yoki basketbolchi bo`lishni orzu qilganidan to bugungacha bo`lgan g`ayritabiiy sayohatini bo`lishdi va shunday dedi: «Men kabi bola uchun mantiqiy joy yo`q edi.» Mur, kollej va WNBA dagi g`alabalari bilan tanilgan, o`zining basketboldan keyingi hayotini ijtimoiy adolatga va erining nohaq hukmini bekor qilishga bag`ishladi. U yangi avlodni quvonch va aloqa izlashga, o`zgarishlarni rag`batlantirishga chaqirdi. Fouls Murning WNBA chempionliklarida asosiy rol o`ynagan, va uchalasi ham Olimpiya oltin medallarini qo`lga kiritgan.
Entoni va Xovard ham 2008 yilgi Pekin Olimpiadasida oldingi muvaffaqiyatsizliklardan so`ng oltin medalni qo`lga kiritgan afsonaviy «Redeem Team» a`zolari sifatida sharaflanganlar. Lebron Jeyms o`sha jamoada Kobi Brayantning yetakchiligini esladi, murabbiy Mayk Krijevski esa ularning ikki maqsadini ta`kidladi: oltin medalni yutish va mamlakat hurmatini qayta tiklash.
Mikki Arison o`z nutqida Lebron Jeyms bilan «Mayami Xit»ning chempionlik muvaffaqiyatlari haqida hazillashib, Jeymsning mashhur «bir emas, ikki emas…» bashoratiga ishora qilib, shunday dedi: «Menimcha, u faqat ikki marta bo`lgan.»
