On Saturday, April 1, the Hall of Fame announced eleven people that will be inducted into the hall as a part of the Class of 2017. Four of those eleven people are being inducted into the Hall of Fame as players. They are Tracy McGrady, George McGinnis, Nick Galis, and Zack Clayton. Former player Rebecca Lobo is also being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017 as a contributor. Here is a look at the four new players that will be inducted this year.
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady, also known as T-Mac, joined the NBA straight out of high school. He was the ninth overall pick in the first round by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA Draft. Tracy played for seven different teams during his NBA career and is the cousin of fellow NBA great Vince Carter. McGrady was a prolific scorer who led the NBA in scoring during the 2002-03 and the 2003-04 seasons. Tracy was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2000-01 and was selected as an NBA All-Star seven times during his career.
George McGinnis
George McGinnis was a force in Indiana basketball through his high school, college and professional basketball career. He teamed with fellow Hall of Famers Mel Daniels, Roger Brown and Coach Slick Leonard to lead the Indiana Pacers to two ABA championships in 1972 and 1973. In 1975 McGinnis was named the co-Most Valuable Player of the ABA with Julius Erving. Until the recent announcement George had been the only Most Valuable Player from the NBA or the ABA who was eligible for the Hall of Fame but had not been inducted.
Nick Galis (Nikos)
Nick Galis, also known as Nikos, played his college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates. He is the fourth Pirate to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, behind guards Bob Davies and Bobby Wanzer and coach Honey Russell. Galis was drafted by the Celtics in 1979, the same year as Larry Bird. He was cut by the Celtics after suffering an injury during training camp. Nick decided to return to his parents homeland, Greece, to play professional basketball. There he became an international basketball star. He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Zack Clayton
Zack Clayton played professional basketball for fifteen years in the 1930s and 1940s. During the Black Fives era before pro basketball became integrated, Clayton starred on the Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Rens. In 1939 Clayton led the Rens to the first World Professional Basketball Tournament title and Zack was named to the All-Tournament First Team. In 1943 Clayton helped the Washington Bears win this same title and he was named to the All-Tournament Second Team. In the 1940s Clayton also played professional baseball in the Negro Leagues alongside Jackie Robinson and his high school teammate Roy Campanella.
Update: The players above were enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Friday, September 8, 2017. Their profiles, with autographed cards and photos, can be viewed using the above links.