Times wires
Friday, February 18, 2011
LOS ANGELES — Dennis Rodman, Jamaal Wilkes and Tex Winter were among 12 finalists announced Friday for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Rodman was the flamboyant rebounder who won five NBA titles with Chicago and Detroit; Wilkes won four NBA titles with Golden State and the Lakers after starring at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden; and Winter was the architect of the triangle and triple-post offense.
Darren Prince, the agent for Rodman, 49, called him in Florida with the news: "He's taken aback a little bit because he's not used to being isolated as an individual for what he's done. He was the most unselfish teammate."
Hall of Fame member and former Spurs center David Robinson played against Rodman, whose nicknames included "Dennis the Menace" and "Worm."
"He was annoying," Robinson said. "He just would be in your shorts all the time, always there with you."
The other finalists are former NBA stars Maurice Cheeks, Chris Mullin and Ralph Sampson; five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards; Stanford women's coach Tara VanDerveer; former NBA coach Dick Motta; Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee; college referee Hank Nichols; and Al Attles, the current vice president of the Warriors who coached them to the 1974-75 championship.
To be inducted, finalists must receive at least 18 votes from a 24-member committee. Those elected will be introduced April 3 at the men's Final Four in Houston. The induction ceremony in Springfield, Mass., is Aug. 11-13.
Among the nominees not chosen as finalists: former Pacers star Reggie Miller and Don Nelson, the NBA's winningest coach and former Celtics player.
'Melo drama: Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, the subject of constant rumors, thought a trade would have been completed by now, so he's ready to have something happen this weekend rather than right before Thursday's trading deadline.
"Before I leave here I would love to have something on happen," said Anthony, in Los Angeles for Sunday's All-Star Game.
Still, he shot down at least two reports of meetings with suitors. He said there was "no meeting at all" set with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the same about a report that Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan of the Knicks wanted a sit-down.
Bieber ball: Teen singer Justin Bieber, who was shut out at the Grammys last week, was named most valuable player despite playing for the losing team in the NBA All-Star celebrity game in Los Angeles. Bieber had eight points, four assists and two rebounds for the West team, which lost 54-49 to the East. In the Rookie Challenge game, the Kings' DeMarcus Cousins had 33 points and 14 rebounds, and the Wizards' John Wall had 22 assists to win the MVP award as the rookies rallied to beat the sophomores 148-140.