Vince Carter is honored to be among the “Icons of the Game,” the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 says

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, inaugurated its 2024 class on Sunday. The induction ceremony was originally scheduled for August 17, but was postponed to October due to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Headed by Vince Carter, here are the 13 people inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. They represent NBA and WNBA stars as well as long-time college and high school coaches:

Vince Carter: Known for his spectacular dunking, Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist and the 1999 Rookie of the Year in his 22 seasons. He played for eight NBA teams throughout his career and is the only player to have played in four different decades.

“Thank you for this incredible honor. “I really appreciate this honor,” Carter said during his acceptance speech. “I was finally able to bear the fact that you gave me an honor that not many players get. I now walk through the doors that the icons of the game have walked through.”

Michele Timms: Timms, this year's International Committee nominee, won two Olympic gold medals for Australia in 1996 and 2000. She played internationally with Lotus Munich of Germany and five seasons with Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Timms is also inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame.

Chauncey Billups: Billups won the NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and was named Finals MVP. He was a five-time All-Star and played for seven teams in his 17 NBA seasons. He is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“It was in Detroit where I became an NBA champion, considered a winner, and that's all I ever wanted,” Billups said as he donned a pair of the city's popular Buffs sunglasses.

Michael Cooper: Cooper was a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and was also named to eight All-Defensive teams. As a coach, he won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 and was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2000.

Walter Davis: Davis was a six-time All-Star in his 15 NBA seasons and was the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Games and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1978.

Harley Redin: Redin, this year's Women's Veteran Committee nominee, posted a 431-66 record, including two undefeated seasons, and won six AAU national championships in 18 seasons at Wayland Baptist University. He was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and won the Naismith Award in 2000 for his outstanding contribution to women's basketball.

Dick Barnett: Barnett, who was named to the Men's Veteran Committee this year, won three consecutive NAIA national titles at Tennessee A&I University, the first black college in history to win a men's basketball championship. He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was an All-Star in 1968.

Bo Ryan: Ryan was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017 and won 747 games in 32 seasons as a head coach, winning three Division III championships. A four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year at Wisconsin, he won four regular-season and three conference tournament titles and reached two Final Fours.

Seimone Augustus: This year's Women's Committee nominee, Augustus, was selected No. 1 overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2006 WNBA Draft, won the 2006 Rookie of the Year award and played 15 seasons in the league. At LSU, she played in three Final Fours and won the Naismith and Wooden Award.

“Act 1 is finished. And Act 2 has just begun for me. And if I do this right, maybe I’ll be back here another night.” said Augustusin reference to her role as an assistant coach for LSU.

Jerry West: West is the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player (class of 1980), Olympian (2010) and now as a contributor. As an executive, he won six NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the Golden State Warriors.

Charles Smith: At Peabody Magnet High School, Smith won nine state championships and is Louisiana's all-time winningest head coach. His teams achieved a score of 41-0 twice (2004 and 2010). He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021.

DougCollins: As a player, Collins was a four-time All-Star in his eight NBA seasons. As a coach, he won 442 games with four teams. But many basketball fans may best know Collins as a TV analyst for CBS, NBC, TNT and ESPN.

Herb Simon: Simon has owned the Indiana Pacers since 1983, making him the longest-serving team owner in NBA history. He is also co-owner of Indiana Fever with his nephew David. The Pacers have been to the NBA playoffs 27 times during Simon's tenure, including a trip to the 2000 NBA Finals.

“This is not a recognition I ever expected,” Simon said in his speech. “But I feel so humbled and humbled to receive it.”