Shane Battier to be inducted into College Basketball Hall of Fame
Duke Basketball on Tuesday announced on Twitter that two-time NBA Champion and superstar of Duke University Shane Battier will be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in autumn.
Battier will become the fourth player to receive such honor in Duke's history, joining Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Jason Williams. Their basketball team's head coach Mike Krzyzewski "Coach K" is already a College Basketball Hall of Famer.
"Never in my wildest 10-year-old dreams was this a possibility. All that I ever wanted to do was be a good teammate and win a few games. What a blessing!" wrote Battier when retweeting Duke Basketball's post.
Shane Battier #31 of Duke dunks in the game they win against Arizona 82-72 in the Final Four of the 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, April 2, 2001. /VCG Photo
In his four years at Duke, Battier averaged 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. In 2001, he helped the Blue Devils win the NCAA Championship and met the harvest year of personal honors too, receiving NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Naismith College Player of the Year, AP College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award and many other honors.
In the 2001 NBA Draft, Battier was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the No.6 pick before starting his 13-year NBA career. He played for three teams -- the Grizzlies, the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat --and won two rings (2012, 2013) in the South Beach by assisting LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Shane Battier (R) of the Houston Rockets defends Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers in the game at the Staples Center, October 30, 2007. /VCG Photo
During his time with the Rockets (2006-2011), Battier made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice (2008, 2009) and earned love from Chinese fans by working with Naismith Basketball of Famer Yao Ming. Though he was never known for monstrous physical condition or athleticism, Battier was one of the smartest defenders of the league. His careful observation of the game plus the flexible play contributed those classic competitions between him, Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) and Kobe Bryant.
Having learnt the news of Battier becoming a College Basketball Hall of Famer, Chinese fans sent their congratulations online.
"The most reliable outside defender," said one, "When will he run for U.S. presidency?," quipped another, while a third said: "Best teammate ever."