Feb 28, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets former player Ralph Sampson smiles at fans during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US Presswire
Some recognizable names in basketball are going to the sport's Hall of Fame Friday.
The Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012 is in Springfield, Mass to be inducted into the shrine of basketball, and some big names are part of the group being honored.
Coach Don Nelson, the coach with the most wins all-time in NBA history, was an assistant coach and head coach for 31 seasons.
Reggie Miller, the sweet-shooting guard who played 17 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, retired as the team's all-time leading scorer.
Ralph Sampson, one-half of the Twin Towers in Houston with Hakeem Olajuwon for a years, played in three NBA All-Star Games and became one of the greatest college players ever while at Virginia.
Jamaal "Silk" Wilkes won championships at the college and NBA levels. He was most known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, who will retire his number this season.
Nike chairman Phil Knight, visible in Oregon as a huge Ducks fan and supporter, enters the hall for his contributions to the evolvement of the game with his shoe and apparel giant.
Don Barksdale broke numerous basketball color barriers, becoming the first black player to be named an NCAA All-American, the first to make the Olympic basketball team, the first to win an Olympic basketball medal, the first to be named an NBA All-Star and the first to be in the top 10 in the NBA in salary. He was voted into the Hall by the Early African-American Pioneers of the Game Committee.
Chet Walker was voted in by the Veterans Committee. He won championships in college and the NBA and missed just 21 games over a 13-year pro career.
The ABA Committee gave the nod to Indiana Pacers legend Mel Daniels, arguably the greatest ABA big man and one of the top players from that league. He won three ABA championships with the Pacers, was the league's MVP twice and was named to seven All-Star teams.
Referee Hank Nichols, former Soviet women's coach Lidia Alexeeva, American women's player Katrina McClain and the barnstorming women's team the All American Red Heads will also be enshrined.
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