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Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors competes in the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest at the Oakland Arena, then known as The Arena in Oakland, California, February 13, 2000. /CFP
Vince "Air Canada" Carter, Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups and Jerry West were among the 14 finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as the list was announced on Friday.
As an eight-time NBA All-Star swingman, Carter was one of the top-three dunkers in league history. His performance in winning the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000 became one of the greatest moments of all All-Star Weekends. Meanwhile, he drained a total of 2,290 3-pointers in his career, the ninth most of all players.
"Unbelievable," Carter said. "I loved to play, more than anything. It wasn't about the numbers. I was asked probably five years prior to retiring, 'Why are you still playing? You're killing your average.' And I said, 'But I still love to play.' And that's what mattered."
Chauncey Billups (#1) of the Detroit Pistons lifts the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy after winning the series 4-1 over the Los Angeles Lakers at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, June 15, 2004. /CFP
Unlike Carter, who was remembered for his jaw-dropping work in the air, Billups has been well-known for running the game on the floor in his whole career, but he never backed from taking the clutch shot, hence the nickname "Mr. Big Shot." He and the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton to win the NBA championship in 2004, and Billups was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
"Everybody that enters the NBA ... it's their dream," Billups told ESPN. "It's basically basketball heaven to be in the Hall of Fame. That was never my goal when I was playing. I just wanted to try to win and be the best teammate I could be. ... I'm just humbled by today. Just being close to it is an honor. I know I'm not there, but I'm closer. It's a straight honor."
Jerry West, executive board member and consultant of the Los Angeles Clippers, looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, April 23, 2023. /CFP
Jerry West was already enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980, but his work as an executive has been just as remarkable. He was behind the establishment of the "Showtime" Lakers in the 1980s and their three-title winning streak in the 2000s as the one who drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, traded for Bryant, signed free agent O'Neal and hired head coach Phil Jackson. Furthermore, the Golden State Warriors won their NBA championships in 2015 and 2017 under West as an executive board member.
The full 14-person list goes as follows:
Players: Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Seimone Augustus, Dick Barnett, Michele Timms;
Coach: Doug Collins (broadcaster), Bo Ryan, Charles Smith, Marian Washington, Harley Redin;
Executive: Jerry West, Herb Simon.