NBA greats Russell, Kukoc, Bosh, Pierce, Wallace enter Hall of Fame 2021

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - NBA veterans Bill Russell, Toni Kukoc, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace, and Chris Webber were officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2021 on Saturday night.

They joined the official ceremony for the Class of 2021 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Former US President Barack Obama congratulated Russell, 87, for entering the Hall of Fame as a head coach.

"I could not be more honored to celebrate Bill Russell for the way he played, the way he coached, the way he led, the way he lives his life," Obama said in a video that NBA shared on Twitter.

"Congratulations Mr. Russell and welcome once again to the Hall of Fame," he added.

NBA's first Black head coach Russell – a Boston Celtics veteran from 1956-1969 – is an 11-time NBA champion with the Celtics. He spent his whole career at the team based in Boston.

The Basketball HOF honored Russell as a coach this time. He was previously inducted in 1975 as a player.

As a coach, Russell led the Celtics to NBA wins in 1968 and 1969.

The Hall of Fame pays tribute to world basketball greats, including coaches, players, and referees, for their significant contributions to the game.

Chicago Bulls' former Croatian forward Kukoc, Miami Heat's former center-forward Bosh, Boston Celtics' ex-player Pierce, Detroit Pistons' former center Wallace, and former player of the Sacramento Kings Webber were enshrined in the A-list.

Kukoc won three NBA titles with the Bulls from 1996-1998.

Bosh was a two-time NBA champion with the Heat in 2012 and 2013. He was also picked for the NBA All-Star 11 times.

A 10-time NBA All-Star, Pierce was one of the integral parts of Celtics, winning the 2008 NBA title.

Wallace, who played for Detroit Pistons for most of his career, became the NBA champion in 2004. He was a four-time NBA All-Star.

Webber, the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year, was a longtime Sacramento Kings power forward (1998-2005). He played in five NBA All-Star games.

Rick Adelman, Jay Wright, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel, Clarence “Fats” Jenkins, Bob Dandridge, and Pearl Moore were also included in the Hall of Fame.