The announcement isn’t expected to be made official until Monday but former Seattle Supersonics star Gary Payton has been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame according to NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper.
Payton has chosen Hall of Famers John Stockton and George Gervin to be his presenters at the ceremony in Springfield, Mass., according to FOX Sports reporter Chris Tomasson.
“John Stockton is someone that I respect and was the toughest basketball player I played (against),” Payton had said. “George Gervin, because I admired him ever since I was (growing up). Those are guys that I respect a lot.”
Payton spent 13 seasons in Seattle where he holds franchise records in points assist and steals. After leaving Seattle, The Glove spent time in Boston, Milwaukee, Los Angeles (with the Lakers) and Miami, where he won his only NBA title in 2006.
Six-time all-star Mitch Richmond, who starred for the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors, revealed on Twitter that he didn’t make the cut.
A source also told Tomasson that Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn missed the cut. He is already enshrined as a player but was seeking to become the fourth to make the Hall as both a player and a coach.
Former Houston head coach Guy Lewis is also reportedly headed to the Hall but it remains unclear who else may join them.
The other eight finalists are women’s college coach Sylvia Hatchell, former women’s star Dawn Staley, college coaches Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian and Guy Lewis, and former NBA players Maurice Cheeks, Tim Hardaway, Spencer Haywood and Bernard King.
