Melo, Howard, Moore, Bird join hoops Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Carmelo Anthony learned tough lessons coming of age while playing basketball on playgrounds in Brooklyn and Baltimore.

It culminated with him becoming one of the sport’s purest scorers and most decorated players ever.

Walking onto the stage for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday to chants of “Melo! Melo!” Anthony took his place alongside basketball’s immortals.

“Pardon my language, but damn,” Anthony said, tearing up. “Tonight, I just don’t step into the Hall of Fame, I carry the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t. … I had to build a new road. I had to write a new ending.”

Anthony was part of a quintet of players that was inducted into the Hall on Saturday as individuals, joining Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. Together, they were part of 11 WNBA or NBA championship teams, captured 15 Olympic gold medals, made 37 All-NBA or All-WNBA appearances and were named as All-Stars 45 times in their careers.

“I never got an NBA ring … but I know what I gave to the game,” Anthony said.

Anthony and Howard were dual enshrinees as members of the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team. The “Redeem Team,” as it became known, won gold at the Beijing Games that summer after Team USA captured a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 FIBA world championships. Howard and Anthony joined 2008 team members Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the late Kobe Bryant, who all were already enshrined as individuals.

This year’s class was rounded out by Chicago Bulls coach and two-time NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.

The enshrinements of Bird, Moore and Fowles marked the first time three WNBA players entered the Hall of Fame in the same year.

Bird said being on the stage Saturday made her appreciate her journey from Syosset, New York, predicting in her high school yearbook that she would become a professional soccer or basketball player.

“There was no logical place for a kid like me,” she said.

Saturday also showcased the interconnectivity of that trio of women. Bird and Moore won two NCAA titles each at Connecticut. Fowles was also instrumental in the final two of Moore’s four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx. All three played together and won gold medals for the U.S. on the Olympic team.

All the members of the Redeem Team were in attendance, except for Bryant, who died in 2020.

LeBron James, who was 23 years old in 2008, said the tone for that team was set by the Lakers’ great.

“We just wanted to get to his level and make him proud,” James said.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said the mission was clear from the moment the star-laden team was assembled.

“Our goal was to win the gold medal but also to win the respect of our country again,” Krzyzewski said.

Moore believes her basketball career, replete with a run of college and WNBA championships and MVP trophies, was a prelude to her post-basketball calling: building what she called “championship communities.”

“Now that I’m in the Hall, I believe I have become Auntie Maya,” she said.

Moore retired before the 2019 WNBA season to focus on social justice issues and helping overturn the wrongful conviction of her now-husband, Jonathan Irons.

She devoted her speech to imploring today’s generation to promote change.

“Figure out what motivates you every day you get out of bed,” Moore said. “I want to challenge you up-and-comers every day to seek out joy and connection.”

Howard, one of four players with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, became known for his playful on-court expressions. He showed all those attributes during a speech that honored the sacrifices of his parents, notably how his mother endured seven miscarriages before delivering him on her eighth attempt.

“My mother lost seven children, and He allowed me to bring sunshine into her life,” he said. “I’m just honored to stand in front of you as one of the greatest basketball players ever.”

Howard was inducted by Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and Robert Parish. Howard acknowledged other great centers as well, including Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dikembe Mutombo. Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of Russell’s enshrinement.

Howard’s speech took playful jabs at his “Superman feud” with O’Neal and included an imitation of Stan Van Gundy, his former Orlando Magic coach.

But Howard concluded his remarks with a message to his children, imploring them to chase their dreams.

“You only die once, but you live every day,” Howard said.

Arison thanked former Heat players in attendance, including James, Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning, for their contributions to what has become known as “Heat Culture” during his stewardship of the team.

He also had jokes, looking toward James when he reminisced about the championship teams led by James, Wade and Bosh by referencing James’ now infamous prediction for the trio’s success.

“In 2010, with Dwyane, LeBron and Chris Bosh we knew we could win. Not one, not two … I guess it was just two,” Arison said.