Olajuwon, Ewing, Riley elected to Hall of Fame

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: Two of basketball's most dominant former centers, 7-footers Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, were among the seven new Hall of Fame inductees named on Monday.

Six-time NBA all-star Adrian Dantley and Miami Heat coach Pat Riley - who ranks third on the NBA's career wins list - were also named in the class of 2008.

"Growing up in Nigeria, I didn't really understand the magnitude of what it means to be in the Hall of Fame," 12-time all-star Olajuwon told reporters.

"I still cannot believe I'm in the same company with all these great legends."

Olajuwon played 17 seasons with the Houston Rockets before joining the Toronto Raptors for the 2001-02 campaign. Twice a defensive player of the year, he scored nearly 27,000 points and grabbed more than 13,000 rebounds during his career.

He waged numerous battles with Ewing, an 11-time all-star who spent most of his career with the New York Knicks before retiring in the same year as Olajuwon after brief stints with Seattle and Orlando.

"It's special for me to go in with Patrick," Olajuwon said. "Because from the beginning, from college, we have history. I have tremendous respect for him and now going in together makes it more special."

Although Olajuwon won two titles with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995, double Olympic gold medalist Ewing finished his illustrious career without a championship ring.

"This means a lot," Ewing said of his election. "I'm being recognized for all of the blood, sweat and tears I've put into my 17-year career.

"Growing up in Massachusetts and having field trips to the Basketball Hall of Fame, I never really realized that one day I'd be in there. This is a dream come true."

Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson, women's college coach Catherine Rush and broadcaster Dick Vitale complete the class which will be enshrined on Sept 5.

Agencies

(China Daily 04/09/2008 page22)