FIBA Hall of Fame's 2017 Class inducted
MIES, Switzerland - The 2017 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame was inducted on Saturday night at the House of Basketball, FIBA's headquarters on the outskirts of Geneva.
Seven world class basketball personalities and, for the first time ever, a team, were enshrined in a ceremony held in the Naismith Arena, FIBA's exhibition space named after the inventor of basketball.
The 2017 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame consists of:
PLAYERS
Mickey Berkowitz (Israel)
Pero Cameron (New Zealand)
Toni Kukoc (Croatia)
Razija Mujanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Shaquille O'Neal (USA)*
Valdis Valters (Latvia)
TEAM
Dream Team (USA)
FIBA President Horacio Muratore said: "It is with tremendous pride that we induct these great basketball personalities into FIBA's Hall of Fame as the Class of 2017. They have positively impacted our sport and assisted its growth in the four corners of the world for many years. 2017 is an important year as it marks FIBA's 85th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the FIBA Hall of Fame. It also means it has been 25 years since the Dream Team amazed us all at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. We normally would not induct a team into the FIBA Hall of Fame but we are making an exception for the Dream Team because of its outstanding contribution to the development of international basketball. Congratulations to all of the inductees that make up the 2017 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame for receiving this well-deserved honor."
* Was unable to attend the ceremony
Mickey Berkowitz (Israel)
Pero Cameron (New Zealand)
Dusan Ivkovic (Serbia)
Toni Kukoc (Croatia)
Razija Mujanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Valdis Valters (Latvia)
David Robinson (USA; accepting on behalf of the Dream Team)
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About the FIBA Hall of Fame
The primary goal of the FIBA Hall of Fame (fiba.basketball/hall-of-fame) is to reflect the history of the sport and its personalities. The key criterion for selection into the FIBA Hall of Fame is outstanding achievement at the international level and contribution to the development of basketball.
The FIBA Hall of Fame was officially inaugurated on March 1, 2007.
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About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball - is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For further information about FIBA visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.
