The Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced a star-studded group of presenters for the induction ceremony next Friday night in Springfield, Mass., a list headed by Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson that is powerful enough to overshadow most of the actual inductees.
Their role is strictly ceremonial, nothing more than standing on stage as the enshrinees speak. And some choices are assigned for a person or team without a personal connection to a current Hall of Famer, as the rules require. But some in the past have been interesting selections – Jordan requesting David Thompson despite not having any relationship, Karl Malone choosing Willis Reed against the same backdrop, both in nods to home-state heroes – and the presenters this time are noteworthy for the number of all-time greats.
The complete list of enshinees and their presenters:
All America Redheads — Teresa Edwards.
Lidia Alexeeva – Will not be present.
The late Don Barksdale – Bob Cousy.
Mel Daniels – Wayne Embry and Artis Gilmore.
Phil Knight – Jordan and John Thompson.
Katrina McClain – Edwards, Julius Erving, and C. Vivian Stringer.
Hank Nichols – Hubie Brown.
Don Nelson – Chris Mullin, Bob Lanier and Satch Sanders.
Reggie Miller – Cheryl Miller, Charles Barkley and Johnson.
Ralph Sampson – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Erving, and Barkley.
Chet Walker – Billy Cunningham, Earl Monroe, Adrian Dantley and Isiah Thomas.
Jamaal Wilkes – Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Rick Barry and Bill Walton.
In all, officials are expecting approximately 50 Hall of Famers to attend, either as participants or to watch and join in private functions.
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