Nash, Kidd, and Hill to enter NBA’s Hall of Fame.
San Antonio, Texas – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced 13 members of its Class of 2018. Three former Phoenix Suns are among the inductees: Steve Nash (1996-98, 2004-12), Jason Kidd (1996-01), and Grant Hill (2007-12).
Steve Nash is remembered as an elite player. Kidd and Hill played multiple seasons with the Suns and also played with other teams–Kidd most notably with the Mavs and Hill with the Pistons.
Courtesy: YouTube
STEVE NASH – Nash played in the NBA for 19 years, earning MVP honors twice (2005, 2006). An eight-time NBA All-Star (2002-2003, 2005-2008, 2010, 2012), he was also a three-time All-NBA First Team member (2005-2007).
He led the NBA in assists per game for five seasons (2005-2007, 2010, 2011) and ranks third in all-time assists. Nash holds the NBA record for career free throw percentage (.904). He also had four seasons with a shooting percentage at or above 50% for field goals, 40% for three-pointers, and 90% for free throws.
Courtesy: Copyright 1997 NBAE, photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
JASON KIDD – A 10-time NBA All-Star (1996, 1998, 2000-2004, 2007, 2008, 2010), Kidd was the 1995 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year and became an NBA Champion with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. In his 18-year NBA career, Kidd earned All-NBA First Team honors five times (1999-2002, 2004) and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times (1999, 2001, 2002, 2006). Kidd ranks second on the NBA all-time steals list (2,684) and the all-time assists list (12,091).
An accomplished collegian at Cal, in 1994 Kidd was a consensus First-Team All America. Kidd also won two Olympic Gold Medals (2000, 2008) and was named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2007.
Courtesy: AP/Eric Gay
GRANT HILL – A 19-year NBA veteran, Hill was an NBA All-Star (1995-1998, 2000, 2001, 2005) and the 1995 NBA Co-Rookie Player of the Year. Selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1997, as well as to the All-NBA Second Team (1996, 1998-2000), Hill won two championships collegiately at Duke (1991, 1992) and was a unanimous First Team All-America (1994). In 2005, Hill was named one of ESPN’s 50 Top College Players of All Time. He won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.
In the NBA, Hill was a three-time recipient of the league’s Sportsmanship Award (2005, 2008, 2010) and won the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Award for philanthropic efforts.
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Data updated as of April 2. Sources: hoophall.com
