Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Grant Hill officially part of 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame class

Jay Asser 21:40 31/03/2018
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    • Steve Nash is one of the best point guards and shooters in NBA history. Picture: Twitter @SportsCentre

    Former NBA stars Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Grant Hill are officially part of the 2018 class that will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Saturday.

    Joining them will be NBA All-Star and coach Maurice Cheeks, women’s basketball notables Katie Smith and Tina Thompson and college basketball coach Lefty Driesell.

    Nash and Kidd are considered two of the best point guards and passers ever and will fittingly be inducted together after dominating the league for much of the past two decades.

    Nash, who is currently serving in a consulting role for the Golden State Warriors, earned MVP honours in consecutive years (2005 and 2006), making him one of just 11 players to ever accomplish the feat. He was also an eight-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA First Team member and one of the best shooters in history, being part of the 50-40-90 club (field goal, 3-point and free throw percentage) four times. Only John Stockton (15,806) and Kidd (12,091) rank ahead of Nash (10.335) for most career assists.

    Kidd, who was fired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season, earned 10 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA First Team selections, four All-Defensive First Team honours, two gold medals at the Olympics and a championship with the Dallas Mavericks. He also ranks second all-time in career steals with 2,684, trailing Stockton’s 3,265.

    Allen, like Nash, is considered one of the greatest shooters and hit arguably the most important shot in NBA history with his corner 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. That led to Allen winning his second title with the Miami Heat, adding to a career that saw him make 10 All-Star Games, win a gold medal at the Olympics and finish with the most career 3-pointers all-time with 2,973.

    Hill, meanwhile, was Co-Rookie of the Year with Kidd, a seven-time All-Star and winner of two national championships with Duke at the college level.

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