HoopsHype.com Rumors

SI: How about when Pau Gasol comes back? There seemed to be some problems when they were out there together. Jackson: Well, what is the problem? We won two championships that way [with two big men]. Pau is one of the best big men in the game. I mean, Pau Gasol is going to be in the Hall of Fame. SI: Hmm, I love his game, but I don't know about that. Jackson: He has won European titles with Spain, [he won] two NBA championships. I think he will. SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Hall of Fame 

Almost three and a half years after his Hall of Fame induction speech was widely criticized for being arrogant and petty, Bulls great Michael Jordan says he has no regrets. "I was really explaining to people about my competitive nature," Jordan tells Ahmad Rashad in an NBA TV "One on One" special airing at 7 p.m. Monday. "Most people say that was the worst speech? OK. That's from your perspective. ... I'll go to the grave thinking, 'I said what I wanted to say. I'm not going to change it.' " Chicago Tribune

Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame 

Whether he took it personally when former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy called him a con man: "Yes. It rubbed me the wrong way then, and if I hear it now, it still rubs me the wrong way. I was good friends with Patrick (Ewing), good friend with (Charles) Oakley. … I felt that was inappropriate for him to say something like that." Chicago Tribune

New York Knicks, Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame, Jeff Van Gundy 

During Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame speech, he hinted that he might make a comeback at 50 years old: "One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said near the end of his speech, which drew laughter from the crowd in Springfield. "Oh, don't laugh. Never say never. Sulia

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame 

For Bernard King, maybe the sixth time is the charm. The Brooklyn product and former Knick great was revealed as one of 12 finalists for the 2013 Hall of Fame class Friday, joining notables such as Gary Payton, Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian and Tim Hardaway. King, 56, who has been nominated six times, received strong support from Dominique Wilkins — a 2006 inductee — who played against King until King’s retirement in 1993. The 2013 class will be announced at the NCAA Final Four in April. “Is Bernard King a Hall of Famer? He should be a first ballot Hall of Famer,” Wilkins said. “I never feared anybody whenever I played them. Nobody. He’s the only guy that scared the hell out of me. He’s a machine. Here’s a guy he could put 40 in the book and there’s nothing you can do about it. And he did it consistently. He should have already been a Hall of Famer.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Hall of Fame, Bernard King 

With the future of the Sacramento Kings in question and the possibility of a Sonics return to Seattle, Mitch Richmond and Gary Payton find themselves in a precarious position. By this time next year, Payton’s No. 20 could be hanging in the rafters of KeyArena, while Richmond’s No. 2 banner might be locked away in storage somewhere in Sacramento. In retirement, they are the closest of friends. The two sat next to each other as they were announced as finalists for this year’s hall of fame class on Friday. The two acknowledge it’s a bizarre situation they are in as the cities they once called home jockey for position in the fight for the Kings. “Yeah, we talked about that,” Richmond told Cowbell Kingdom of his hopes that the Kings stay in Sacramento juxtaposed to Payton’s desire to bring back the Sonics. “He wants his jersey up and I don’t want my jersey down. So I think it’s a little bit combination of both.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

Regardless of the outcome, the two friends and former foes that represent the best of Sacramento and Seattle’s storied basketball histories hope that a resolution comes soon. If anything, for the sake of closure for two proud fanbases. “They’ve been going through some mixed emotions,” Richmond said of the ordeal Kings fans have experienced these last two years. ”But hopefully, you know it all works out. Going through some tough times right now, but hopefully they can continue to keep that team, build them a new arena, get the city back excited again and go from there.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

Guerin, who is retired and lives in West Palm Beach, was shopping with his wife, Pat, at Costco on Friday morning when he received a call from FOX Sports Florida. He had no idea he had been inducted until he was told. “I didn’t know,’’ said Guerin, 80. “Is that right? Well, I really do appreciate you telling me. That’s a total surprise. I did not hear that.’’ The 6-foot-4 Guerin was a guard for the New York Knicks and St. Louis and Atlanta Hawks from 1956-70. He averaged 17.3 points, including 29.5 for the Knicks in 1961-62. FOXSports Florida

Hall of Fame, Richie Guerin 

Guerin, who previously had failed to be elected to the Springfield, Mass., shrine, through the regular process, was inducted directly into the Hall by the Veterans Committee at a press conference in Houston, site of NBA All-Star Weekend. “It’s a blessing,’’ Guerin said of finally getting in. “I had been disappointed before, but there’s nothing you can do about it. People would approach me through the years and say, ‘You really should be in the Hall of Fame.’ And that would make it hurt a little more. “It had been frustrating before. I always heard there were times were I didn’t make it by a vote or two.’’ FOXSports Florida

Hall of Fame, Richie Guerin 

Mitch Richmond on his conversation with friend & former Sonic Gary Payton on #SacKings/Seattle situation: Richmond has been named a finalist to the hall of fame along with Payton. The two, who are close friends, have talked about the possibility of Richmond's old team becoming Payton's if the Kings move to Seattle. "Yeah, we talked about that. He wants his jersey up and I don't want my jersey down. So I think it's a little bit combination of both. But hopefully, Sacramento works something out (so) that they can continue to keep the team." Sulia

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Mitch Richmond 

Basketball Hall of Fame Chairman Jerry Colangelo defended the Hall's decision to elect Granik. "The committee that looked at all the people who were submitted as candidates came to the conclusion that Russ Granik was the person they wanted to put forward this year," Colangelo told USA TODAY Sports. "Everyone has their moment. Some people might get it on the first shot, second shot. In terms of a direct-elect, people are now going into the Hall who never went into the Hall. This is a great example of how this system is really working. USA Today Sports

Jerry Colangelo, Hall of Fame, Russ Granik 

Alan Hahn: Bernard King is back as a finalist this season once again for the Hall of Fame. Everyone I talked to from his era believes he belongs there. Twitter @alanhahn

Hall of Fame, Bernard King 

Mark Berman: Drexler on Guy Lewis: "He's more deserving than Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon & myself. He helped mold us into the players that we became." Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Hall of Fame, Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Guy Lewis 

Also announced today are five Direct Elects who are the initial members of the Class of 2013. They include Roger Brown voted in from the American Basketball Association (ABA) Committee, Edwin B. Henderson from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Oscar Schmidt from the International Committee, Richard Guerin from the Veterans Committee and Russ Granik from the Contributor Direct Election Committee. NBA.com

Hall of Fame 

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today, at NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, an elite list of players and coaches, as the 12 finalists from the North American and Women's committees to be considered for election in 2013. The recognition of being honored as a Hall of Fame finalist is a career highlight in the sport of basketball. This year's list includes six first-time finalists: five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, three-time National Coach of the Year Sylvia Hatchell, two-time NBA Championship coach Tom Heinsohn, nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton, five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley and six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond. Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are four-time NBA All-Star Maurice Cheeks, four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood, four-time NBA All-Star Bernard King, five- time NCAA Final Four coach Guy Lewis, six-time NCAA Final Four coach Rick Pitino and four-time NCAA Final Four coach Jerry Tarkanian. The Class of 2013 will be unveiled at the NCAA Final Four in April. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Maurice Cheeks, Gary Payton, Hall of Fame, Rick Pitino, Tim Hardaway, Bernard King, Tom Heinsohn, Mitch Richmond 

Chris Tomasson: Just talked to Richie Guerin on phone/told him he's in Hall of Fame He had no idea until I told him Was shopping at Costco in West PalmBeach Twitter @christomasson

Hall of Fame, Richie Guerin 

Dikembe Mutombo thinks he deserves induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The 7-foot-2 Mutombo will be eligible beginning in 2015 after his retirement following the 2008-09 season. He ranks second on the NBA's career blocked shots list (3,256), behind only Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830) and he says surpassing every player but Olajuwon on that list should alone merit inclusion into the Hall. Mutombo was also a four-time defensive player of the year, an eight-time All-Star and twice the league's top rebounder (2000-01). "If you can see my name just below one of the great basketball players to ever play for this league," he said Wednesday, "for me to come this close to breaking his record, I don't see why I cannot be on the same bus with him. That's how I look at it." CBSSports.com

Hall of Fame, Dikembe Mutombo 

"At the end of my journey, I see myself as a Rocket," he said. "That's where I ended my career, and also the organization that did so much for me. They knew I had a vision and I went to work for the owner, who's a man who believes in philanthropy and believed in me as a player." Mutombo says his hospital has become one of the best in Africa, with 185 beds and state-of-the-art equipment. He says it's treated patients from nine different countries on the continent and he's close to securing an agreement under which U.S. diplomats could receive medical care there. "We're very pleased with this dream," he said. "Sometimes, I sit down and I cannot believe that it is a reality - that a young man like me was able to build a hospital in the continent that is going through so much, and a country that is going through a civil war. Somehow, the hospital survives." CBSSports.com

Hall of Fame, Dikembe Mutombo 

Glickman’s already good spirits got a boost earlier this month when he was among the nominees for the 2013 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — a year after broadcaster Bill Schonely earned the Hall’s annual Curt Gowdy Award. Glickman, 88, is being considered in the contributor category. Few are more deserving. “I was kind of amazed when I learned I was nominated,” Glickman says over a plate of crab salad. “Very flattered. It’s more proof, I guess, that small markets can compete. You don’t have to be Los Angeles or Chicago or New York to matter.” I ask Glickman what it would mean to him if he were to gain induction. “I’m awfully proud to be a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame,” he says after a moment. “But I don’t know ... what’s the cliche? That would cap my career.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Hall of Fame, Harry Glickman 

Glickman is the man who put together the ownership group that landed Portland its expansion NBA franchise in 1970. He is considered the franchise’s founder, but was also its first general manager, executive vice president, president and finally president emeritus. It’s been a remarkable run for the child of the Great Depression raised in a single-parent household, whose mother, Bessie, worked as a “finisher” in the lady’s garment industry. “That’s how she made her living,” he says. “But we never missed anything. I had a newspaper route as a kid. We were fine.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Hall of Fame, Harry Glickman