Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce additional details regarding Enshrinement Weekend for the Class of 2021. The Enshrinement process will culminate with the Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, September 11 in Springfield, Mass. – the Birthplace of Basketball. The Class was revealed in May and includes a total of 16 honorees.
This year’s class includes nine honorees from the North American and Women’s committees: ninth-winningest coach in NBA history Rick Adelman, two-time NBA champion and 11-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, NBA Finals MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, the first Black NBA head coach Bill Russell, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Champion Ben Wallace, five-time NBA All-Star and NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Webber, two-time NCAA national champion Villanova coach Jay Wright, seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Yolanda Griffith and seven-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Lauren Jackson.
Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected seven directly elected honorees: Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons and Howard Garfinkel from the Contributor Committee, Clarence “Fats” Jenkins from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Toni Kukoc from the International Committee, Bob Dandridge from the Veterans Committee and Pearl Moore from the Women’s Veterans Committee.
Enshrinement Weekend will begin at Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 10 with the headlining Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala. The Class of 2021 and over 50 returning Hall of Famers will then journey to Springfield, Mass. for the annual celebratory events taking place at the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield’s MassMutual Center. Details of the schedule of events for Enshrinement 2021 are as follows:
Friday, September 10
Class of 2021 Autograph Session at Mohegan Sun (Uncasville, CT)
Meet the Class of 2021 at their first public Enshrinement Weekend event! A ticket to this event will give you the opportunity to receive one autograph per class member.
Enshrinement 2021 Press Conference Media Availability at Mohegan Sun (Uncasville, CT)
2:00 PM Live on NBA TV
The official media availability for the Hall of Fame Class of 2021. This availability is only open to credentialed members of the media, along with VIP Package ticket holders and will be held at Mohegan Sun. The Press Conference will be televised by NBA TV.
Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala at Mohegan Sun (Uncasville, CT)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – on NBA TV beginning at 9:00 PM ET
The Class of 2021, along with the Hall’s prestigious annual award winners, will be celebrated at this televised Enshrinement event at Mohegan Sun. This event will include the awarding of the Class of 2021 rings presented by Baron Championship Rings and the presentation of the Class of 2021 Hall of Fame jackets presented by Reveal Suits. The program will additionally highlight the presentation of the Hall's annual John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, the Mannie Jackson: Basketball's Human Spirit Awards and the Curt Gowdy Media Awards.
Saturday, September 11
Enshrinement Ceremony VIP Reception at the Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, MA)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Toast the incoming Hall of Fame Class of 2021 at the Basketball Hall of Fame prior to the sport’s ultimate recognition. The party is limited to those select ticket holders for the Enshrinement Ceremony. Shuttle service between the Hall of Fame and MassMutual Center will be provided.
Enshrinement Ceremony Red Carpet Show at MassMutual Center (Springfield, MA)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Live on NBA TV
The Class of 2021, returning Hall of Famers, as well as many of the sport’s icons walk the red carpet in a live television broadcast by NBA TV outside MassMutual Center. This show sets the stage for the Enshrinement Ceremony.
Enshrinement Ceremony at MassMutual Center (Springfield, MA)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Live on NBA TV
One of the most elite nights on the basketball calendar each year, the Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be formally enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in a nationally televised ceremony on NBA TV. The stars of basketball all come together to celebrate the next group of the sport’s iconic figures.
Sunday, September 12
“Rock n’ Hall” Enshrinement Weekend Concert
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Enshrinement Weekend and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is making that extra trifecta shot by teaming up with the Springfield Business Improvement District and Westfield Bank to produce a free concert with local party favorite Darik and the Funbags and NBC’s The Voice finalist and local favorite Michelle Brooks-Thompson outside at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The concert is free to the public.
A culmination of the Enshrinement Ceremony celebrations, the Hall of Fame will offer a limited number of tickets to the public to view the newly renovated museum for just $10 each (normally $28.00.) Tickets must be booked online and used on September 12. To purchase for a visit that day, please go to: http://www.hoophall.com/plan-your-experience.
As the health and safety of Hall of Famers, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, the Basketball Hall of Fame has implemented COVID-19 protocols for all guests and staff attending or working the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend. Guest protocols are posted on https://www.hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2021.
For more information and the latest updates, visit The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Enshrinement 2021 (hoophall.com) or follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #21HoopClass or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.