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Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon nominated for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Originally posted on Indianapolis Pacers on SI
By Tony East | Last updated Dec 22, 2023 2:15 PM ET

Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon has been named a candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He is eligible for induction in the 2024 class. It is Simon's first year being a nominee for the Hall Of Fame.

Simon, 89, purchased the Pacers in 1983. The franchise was struggling to get a foothold in the NBA at the time, but they rose to prominence not long after Simon purchased the team with his brother. Indiana's owner is a nominee for the Hall Of Fame in the contributor category.

"Herb is the longest tenured governor in the history of the NBA," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said on Thursday, per a video posted by the team. "His acts of philanthropy are legendary, and he's a guy that doesn't ever seek attention. So this is very well deserved for him."

Simon recently sold 15% of the Pacers to minority owner Steven Rales. Simon's son also has a role with the franchise.

Joining Simon as Hall Of Fame nominees are Donnie Walsh and Jack McKinney, among others, who have Pacers ties. McKinney was the team's head coach when Simon purchased the franchise, and Walsh held multiple leadership roles with the organization.

Finalists for the 2024 Hall Of Fame class will be revealed in Indianapolis during All-Star weekend, and the inductees will be named in early April during the NCAA Final Four. Enshrinement will take place next August.

The Pacers have 26 postseason appearances since Simon purchased the team, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2000.

This article first appeared on Indianapolis Pacers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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