National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Type | College basketball Hall of fame |
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is a special place in Kansas City, Missouri. It's like a museum and a hall of fame all in one. This hall celebrates the best men's college basketball players, coaches, and others who have made a huge difference in the sport.
It's part of a bigger place called the College Basketball Experience, which was created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). You can find it right next to the T-Mobile Center. The Hall of Fame focuses only on college basketball, making it a perfect partner to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which covers all basketball.
On November 17, 2006, the NABC welcomed about 180 amazing people into the Hall of Fame. These were the first members, known as the founding class. Famous names like Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Dean Smith, John Wooden, and the family of James Naismith (who invented basketball!) were among the first to be honored.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, has even helped with some of the displays. The College Basketball Experience also has fun, interactive areas like 'The Entry Experience,' 'The Fan Experience,' and 'The Game.' The NABC also renamed a college basketball tournament, now called the CBE Classic, to help share the word about this exciting place.
Contents
Honoring College Basketball Legends
Who Gets Inducted?
Being "inducted" into the Hall of Fame means you are officially recognized as one of the greatest people in college basketball history. Each year, new coaches, players, and other important contributors are chosen to join this special group. It's a huge honor!
Founding Class of 2006
The very first group of inductees in 2006 was huge, with many legends. It included 54 coaches, 100 players, and 19 contributors. Some of the most famous names from this founding class include:
- Coaches: Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, John Wooden
- Players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Jerry West
- Contributors: James Naismith (the inventor of basketball!)
Recent Inductees
Each year, more stars are added. Here are some of the people who have been inducted in recent years:
- 2020: This year honored three famous teams: the 1963–64 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team, the 1965-66 Texas Western Miners men's basketball team, and the 1975–76 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team.
- 2021: Coaches Rick Byrd and Tom Penders were inducted. Players included Len Bias, David Greenwood, Hersey Hawkins, Jim Jackson, Antawn Jamison, and Paul Pierce.
- 2022: Coaches John Beilein, Jim Calhoun, Lon Kruger, and Roy Williams were honored. Players included Richard Hamilton, Larry Miller, Frank Selvy, and Jimmy Walker. Jerry Krause was inducted as a contributor.
- 2023: Coach Herb Magee joined the Hall. Players Johnny Dawkins and Tyler Hansbrough were also inducted, along with contributor Tom Konchalski.
- 2024: Coach Jack Hartman was inducted. Players included Dave Meyers, Sihugo Green, Lennie Rosenbluth, Wayne Estes, Sam Lacey, John Rudometkin, and Tom Stith.
Special Honors for Founding Members
Even after the first big induction, some founding class members are specially honored at ceremonies in later years. It's like a spotlight on their amazing careers!
- 2007: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- 2008: Charles Barkley
- 2009: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson
- 2010: Jerry West, David Thompson
- 2011: Bob Knight, James Worthy
- 2012: Clyde Lovellette, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe
- 2013: Elvin Hayes
- 2023: Mike Krzyzewski
More Basketball Fun
If you're interested in more basketball history, check out these other related places:
- USBWA Hall of Fame
- National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)
- Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Hall of Honor
- Carolina Basketball Museum (University of North Carolina)
See also
In Spanish: National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame para niños
