SPRINGFIELD, MA – Former Los Angeles native and Sparks player, Tina Thompson, has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Over the holiday break, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the eligible candidates for the Class of 2018, after revealing earlier players would now be eligible after just three seasons of retirement. Thompson, a perennial All-Star during her WNBA career, is a first time nomination.
Thompson played with the Los Angeles Sparks from 2009 to 2011 alongside players like Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. After winning four championships with the Houston Comets, she returned to her hometown when the Comets folded in 2008. During her time with the Sparks, she became the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, passing former teammate Lisa Leslie. Thompson compiled an 18 – 16 playoff record while in Los Angeles. In 2011, she was voted by fans as one of the top 15 players in the WNBA’s fifteen-year history.
The finalists from the North American and Women’s committees will be announced Feb. 17 in connection with the NBA All-Star Game, which will be played at Staples Center. The 2018 Hall of Fame class will be announced at the men’s Final Four in San Antonio.
A first look at the list of eligible nominees was provided by The Jump on ESPN, hosted by Rachel Nichols and Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady. A complete list of eligible candidates can be found below.
A press conference announcing the Finalists from the North American and Women’s committee for the Class of 2018 will be held during NBA All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 17th in Los Angeles, California. The entire Class of 2018, including those selected by the direct elect committees, will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
Enshrinement festivities will take place in Springfield, Mass., September 6-8, 2018. Tickets for the various Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Enshrinement events are on sale as of noon eastern time on www.hoophall.com.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Ballot
* Indicates First-Time Nominee
North American Committee Nominations
Mark Aguirre (PLA) Ray Allen (PLA)* Chauncey Billups (PLA)* Muggsy Bogues (PLA) Irv Brown (REF) Jim Burch (REF) Maurice Cheeks (PLA) Charles “Lefty” Driesell (COA) Hugh Evans (REF) Steve Fisher (COA)* Bill Fitch (COA) Cotton Fitzsimmons (COA) Richard Hamilton (PLA)* Tim Hardaway (PLA) Ed Hightower (REF)* Grant Hill (PLA)* Bob Huggins (COA)* Kevin Johnson (PLA) Marques Johnson (PLA) Bobby Jones (PLA) Jerry “Tiger” Jones (COA) Gene Keady (COA) |
Ken Kern (COA) Jason Kidd (PLA)* Rollie Massimino (COA) Gary McKnight (COA) Danny Miles (COA) Sidney Moncrief (PLA) Dick Motta (COA) Steve Nash (PLA)* Jake O’Donnell (REF) Jim Phelan (COA) Lamont Robinson (PLA) Lee Rose (COA) Bo Ryan (COA) Bob Saulsbury (COA) Jack Sikma (PLA) Steve Smith (COA) Harry Statham (COA) Eddie Sutton (COA) Rudy Tomjanovich (COA) Ben Wallace (PLA) Chris Webber (PLA) Willie West (COA)* Paul Westphal (PLA) |
Women’s Committee Nominations
Leta Andrews (COA) Jennifer Azzi (PLA) Becky Hammon (PLA)* Susie McConnell (PLA) Pearl Moore (PLA) Kim Mulkey (COA) Kim Mulkey (PLA) Harley Redin (COA) |
Theresa Shank (PLA) Katie Smith (PLA)* Marianne Stanley (COA) Barbara Stevens (COA) Valerie Still (PLA)* Tina Thompson (PLA)* Wayland Baptist (TEA) Teresa Weatherspoon (PLA) |
DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Early African-American Pioneers Committee Nominations
Clarence “Puggy” Bell Sonny Boswell Chuck Cooper Bill Garrett Inman Jackson Clarence “Fats” Jenkins Bucky Lew |
Davage “Dave” Minor Hudson Oliver Al “Runt” Pullins James “Pappy” Ricks Paul Robeson Eyre Saitch William “Wee Willie” Smith |
DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: International Committee Nominations
Tal Brody Jackie Chazalon Vlade Divac Alphonso Ford Semen Khalipski Vladimir Kondrashin Toni Kukoc Marcos Leite |
Aldo Ossola Amaury Pasos Dan Peterson Dino Radja Manuel Sainz Togo Soares Ranko Zeravica |
DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Contributor Committee Nominations
Marv Albert Al Attles Dick Baumgartner Henry Bibby* Marty Blake Vic Bubas Wayne Duke Harry Glickman Marty Glickman Simon Gourdine* Curt Gowdy Tim Grgurich Del Harris Greg Heineman* Robert Indiana Johnny “Red” Kerr Bill King |
John Kline Red Klotz Bobby Lewis Jack McCloskey Jerry McHale* Johnny Most Dennis Murphy Joe O’Toole Billy Packer Jack Powers Dee Rowe Zelda Spoelstra Rod Thorn* Jim Valvano Donnie Walsh Frank Walsh Rick Welts* |
DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Veterans Committee Nominations
1936 US Olympic Team (TEA) 1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors (TEA) Ron Boone (PLA) Sid Borgia (REF) Carl Braun (PLA) Frank Brian (PLA) Joe Caldwell (PLA) Mack Calvin (PLA) Jack Coleman (PLA) Bob Dandridge (PLA) Charles Eckman (REF) Leroy Edwards (PLA) Leo Ferris (CONT) Clarence “Bevo” Francis (PLA) Buck Freeman (COA) Donnie Freeman (PLA) Travis Grant (PLA) Bob Grody (PLA) Robert Harrison (PLA) Flo Harvey (PLA) Dick Hemric (PLA) Cam Henderson (COA) Robert Hopkins (PLA) Lou Hudson (PLA) Warren Jabali (PLA) Jimmy Jones (PLA) Charles Kenaith (PLA) Freddie Lewis (PLA) |
Jim Loscutoff (PLA) Loyola of Chicago (TEA) Billy Markward (CONT) Ed McCluskey (COA) Ray Mears (COA) Francis Meehan (PLA) Donald “Dudey” Moore (COA) Willie Naulls (PLA) Philadelphia SPHAS (TEA) Mel Riebe (PLA) Glenn Roberts (PLA) Holcombe Rucker (CONT) Kenny Sailors (PLA) Fred Schaus (PLA) Charlie Scott (PLA) Kenny Sears (PLA) Frank Selvy (PLA) George Senesky (PLA) Paul Seymour (PLA) Charles Siler (CONT) Talvin Skinner (PLA) Ken Suesens (PLA) Tennessee A&I (TEA) Dick Van Arsdale (PLA) Tom Van Arsdale (PLA) Willie Wise (PLA) Max Zaslofsky (PLA) |