By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Galis was directly elected by the International Committee. He was presented by Bob McAdoo, his former rival in the 80s when Galis was playing for Greek powerhouse Aris and McAdoo for Italian dynasty Olympia Milan.
“After winning the European championships in 1987, a whole nation ran into the streets to celebrate”, said Galis during his enshrinement speech. “From that time on, basketball became Greece’s national sport. Since that day, there isn’t a playground or a house without a hoop or a ball and I am sure that Dr. Naismith would be proud of this”.
This year’s class includes the all-time winningest boys high school coach Robert Hughes, WNBA icon and ESPN Analyst Rebecca Lobo, two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, three-time Consensus National College Coach of the Year from Notre Dame Muffet McGraw, and two-time AP College Coach of the Year Bill Self.
Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected five more directly elected members. They include George McGinnis from the Veterans Committee, Zack Clayton from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, and Mannie Jackson, Tom Jernstedt and Jerry Krause from the Contributor Committee.
However, for Europe, this was Galis’ night, who became just the sixth non-NBA player to enter the Hall of Fame. To this day, Galis remains the 4th all time Eurobasket scorer and the top scorer per average and a role model even for All Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
RESPECT.. Hopefully one day I can be on the same stage and have my name next to yours. #HOF #GOAT @NickGalis6 pic.twitter.com/RdTD5VCtHf
— GiannisAntetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) September 9, 2017