Pete NewellInducted:1979 Stats Born   August 31, 1915 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Died November 17, 2008 Rancho Santa Fe, California, U.S. Position Center College NA Pete Newell was one of the most influential teachers in the history of basketball, renowned for his mastery of footwork and defensive fundamentals. While he is best known for his collegiate success, Newell’s impact on the …

Joe FulksInducted:1978 Player Stats 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Born   October 26, 1921 Birmingham, Kentucky, U.S. Died March 21, 1976 Eddyville, Kentucky, U.S. Position Power forward College Murray State (1941–1943) Joe Fulks was the NBA’s first true scoring superstar and a fundamental architect of the modern game. At a time when flat-footed set shots were …

Cliff HaganInducted:1978 Player Stats 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Born   December 9, 1931 Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S. Position Small forward College Kentucky (1950–1954) Cliff Hagan was a versatile and consistent forward who played a key role in the success of the St. Louis Hawks during the late 1950s and 1960s. Known for his smooth scoring ability …

John NucatolaInducted:1978 Stats Born  November 17, 1907 New York City Died May 9, 2000 New York Position NBA referee College NA John Nucatola was widely considered the premier basketball official of the mid-20th century, a man whose integrity and mastery of the rulebook earned him the nickname “The Referee’s Referee.” His career spanned the evolution of the professional game, as …

Jim PollardInducted:1978 Player Stats 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Born  July 9, 1922 Oakland, California, U.S. Died January 22, 1993 Stockton, California, U.S. Position Small forward College Stanford (1940–1942) Jim Pollard was the NBA’s first true high-flyer and a cornerstone of the league’s first dynasty. Standing 6’4″ with extraordinary leaping ability, Pollard earned his nickname, …

Elgin BaylorInducted:1977 Player Stats 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Born  September 16, 1934 Washington, D.C., U.S. Died March 22, 2021 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Position Small forward College College of Idaho (1954–1955) Seattle (1956–1958) Elgin Baylor was the NBA’s first true aerial artist, a 6’5″ forward whose acrobatic playing style transformed the game from a …

Laddie GaleInducted:1977 Player Stats 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Born  April 22, 1917 Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S. Died July 29, 1996 Gold Beach, Oregon, U.S. Position Forward College Oregon (1936–1939) Laddie Gale was a foundational force in the development of the “big man” role in basketball. A 6’4″ forward/center with remarkable agility and a soft shooting touch, Gale rose …

William JohnsonInducted:1977 Player Stats 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Born  August 16, 1911 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. Died February 5, 1980 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. Position Center College Kansas (1930–1933) William “Skinny” Johnson was a dominant force of the 1930s and one of the first truly athletic “big men” in basketball history. Standing 6’4″ at a time when such …