Malone and Pippen inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

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Alex White

14 August, 2010

Other inductees to the Hall of Fame were the 1992 U.S. Olympic 'Dream Team', which included Malone and Pippen, along with the 1960 U.S. Olympic team.

POWER FORWARD Karl Malone and small forward Scottie Pippen were inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday along with 10 others.

Malone, arguably one of the greatest power forwards to play in the NBA, is the league's second highest scorer with 36,928 points.

Malone named her mother in his induction and said that it was she who was behind whatever he has achieved today. His mother died 7 years ago.

"I'm here because of her," an emotional Malone said.

"For me to be here tonight, everything had to be perfect. I had to get drafted by Utah, had to play with a point guard like John Stockton, and had to be coached by Jerry Sloan and Frank Layden."

Pippen won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and he was also the part of the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He was an NBA All-Star three times, and like Malone won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.

"What an honor it is for me as a basketball player to have the all-time great presenting me here," said Pippen acknowledging his presenter and former Chicago team mate, Michael Jordon.

"MJ, you have touched so many people's lives, but none quite like mine.

"Thank you for being the best team mate. I will always cherish that experience and I will cherish our relationship forever."

Other inductees to the Hall of Fame were the 1992 U.S. Olympic 'Dream Team', which included Malone and Pippen, along with the 1960 U.S. Olympic team.

Cynthia Cooper was enshrined into the Hall as the first WNBA player. New Jersey high school coach Bob Hurley, and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss were other inductees.

Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and Brazilian Maciel Pereira were enshrined posthumously.