[February 15, 2014](The Sports Xchange) — The
first five members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Class of 2014 were announced on Friday, and nine individuals and one
team were named as finalists for consideration for election in 2014.
The five Direct Elects include Bob "Slick" Leonard voted in from
the American Basketball Association (ABA) Committee, Nat Clifton
from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Sarunas
Marciulionis from the International Committee, Guy Rodgers from the
Veterans Committee and former NBA commissioner David Stern from the
Contributor Direct Election Committee.
These five new committees were established in 2011 to directly elect
one nominee into the Naismith from the Contributor Direct Election
Committee.
This year's list of finalists includes six first-time finalists:
three-time NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson, seven-time NBA All-Star
Alonzo Mourning, 1994 Naismith and NABC Coach of the Year Nolan
Richardson, four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton,
two-time NCAA championship coach Gary Williams and Immaculata
University's AIAW National Championship teams of the early 1970s.
Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are
five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, four-time NBA All-Star Spencer
Haywood, six-time AAU National Champion coach Harley Redin and
six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond.
The entire Class of 2014 will be announced on Monday, April 7.
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Injured Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will be replaced by
Houston Rockets guard James Harden in Sunday's All-Star Game, Yahoo
Sports reported.
Bryant was voted in by fans as a starter for the West's squad but is
unable to play because of knee injury. Instead, Harden will
reportedly start in his place. Bryant has been out since Dec. 17.
Harden was chosen by Oklahoma City Thunder's Scott Brooks, who is
coaching the West All-Stars.
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said he will be in the starting lineup
for Sunday's All-Star Game despite a foot injury that kept him out
of the Heat's most recent game.
Wade said he had regained feeling in his left foot after numbness in
his foot and leg prevented him from playing in Wednesday's game
against the Golden State Warriors.
Wade said then the ailment was called drop foot, a nerve condition.
Wade began to regain feeling in his foot late Wednesday night and
informed East team coach Frank Vogel on Thursday that he would be
available for Sunday's game.
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New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said that he would be
willing to accept less money to re-sign with the Knicks if that
would help the Knicks attract big-name free agents, ESPNNewYork.com
reported.
Anthony has said that he expects to opt out of the final year of his
current contract to test free-agency after this season. However, he
said on Friday that re-signing with the Knicks would be his "first
priority."
The five Direct Elects include Bob "Slick" Leonard voted in from
the American Basketball Association (ABA) Committee, Nat Clifton
from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Sarunas
Marciulionis from the International Committee, Guy Rodgers from the
Veterans Committee and former NBA commissioner David Stern from the
Contributor Direct Election Committee.
