The two newest inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame have been announced. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, NBA legends Chauncey Billups and Vince Carter are next on the list to be immortalized in Springfield, Massachusetts. According to Charania, the announcement will not be official until this “Saturday at the Final Four.”
Newest 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
Chauncey Billups’ NBA Career
Billups spent 17 seasons playing in the NBA. In his career, “Mr. Big Shot” averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Additionally, he was a five-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Team selection, and a two-time All-Defensive Team selection. However, most notably, Billups took home the 2004 NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons. Billups also played for the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers. The Colorado Native had numerous stops during his illustrious career, but none of them top his Pistons tenure. Last year, while on the All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Billups talked about winning Finals MVP with the Pistons:
“That was obviously my shining moment in my career. ‘Sheed would say the same. Rip would say the same. Everybody would say the same. Because that was what we played for, you know. For the win. That’s how I grew up in the game, talk about going against guys and competing against other guys and all the names you listed,” Billups said.
Currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Billups will look to make his impact felt on the game of basketball for many years to come.
Vince Carter: Half-Man, Half-Amazing
After 22 seasons in the NBA, Carter’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is a no-brainer. Over those 22 seasons, Carter averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Currently, the UNC alum holds the record for most seasons played in the NBA. Additionally, Carter added eight All-Star teams and two All-NBA Teams to his resume. Furthermore, he was the 1998-99 NBA Rookie of the Year and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2000. In his career, Carter played for the Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks. Despite being a part of a lot of teams in his career, the newest Hall of Famer has already made it clear which team he wants to represent in the Hall of Fame:
“Toronto. Toronto. Toronto. It has to be. It’s where it started,” Carter said.
“Yes, I had great years in Jersey, but it started there. My confidence and understanding the player I could be in the league was trending upwards still in Toronto.”
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