(Reuters) – 4-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili and three-time WNBA champion Lindsay Whalen have been among the many six gamers named as finalists for entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame on Friday.
Ginobili spent all 16 years of his NBA profession with the San Antonio Spurs the place he was a two-time All-Star and received the Sixth Man of the 12 months award in 2008.
On the worldwide stage, the Argentine guard helped ship the primary and solely Olympic gold medal for his nation on the 2004 Video games and a bronze in 2008.
Ginobili is credited with serving to to develop the NBA’s enchantment abroad. The announcement comes forward of this weekend’s All-Star Sport in Cleveland, the place a record-tying 4 worldwide gamers have been named as starters.
Level guard Whalen is a five-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and was acknowledged as one of many 20 finest WNBA gamers of all time in 2016.
The opposite gamers named as finalists have been five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper; five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway; four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Money; and Nationwide Collegiate Participant of the 12 months Marques Johnson.
Coaches George Karl, Bob Huggins, Leta Andrews and Marianne Stanley have been additionally named as finalists for the Springfield, Massachusetts-based Corridor of Fame.
Longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans rounded out the listing of nominees, who shall be thought-about by the Corridor’s committees this yr.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Modifying by Leslie Adler)
Supply: KFGO
