Another year, another Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

This year's list of inductees was revealed early.

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Billy Donovan, Danny Crawford, Micky Arison, and the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball "Redeem Team" were jointly inducted.

These names are all well-known.

Brother Melo, a 10-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, is one of the representatives of the "03 Draft Class" generation.

The "Beast," Dwight Howard, an 8-time All-Star, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time rebounding leader, with a career total of 14,627 rebounds ranking tenth all-time, won the 2020 NBA championship with the Lakers.

Sue Bird, the WNBA's all-time assists leader, 13-time All-Star, four-time champion, spent her entire career with the Seattle Storm.

Maya Moore needs no introduction—she is the undefeated queen.

Sylvia Fowles, two-time regular season MVP, four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and 2015 and 2017 champion.

Donovan is currently the head coach of the Bulls, with his greatest achievement being leading the University of Florida to two NCAA championships.

Danny Crawford, a veteran NBA referee for 32 years, officiated during the Jordan era, famously known for calling a technical foul on Buzzer after a made basket...(Note, he is not the one who called Tim Duncan out; that was Joey Crawford.)

Micky Arison, as the owner of the Miami Heat, led the assembly of the "Big Three" era, helping the team win three championships.

The 2008 U.S. men's basketball team, inducted as a collective Olympic team, represents the highest recognition of that generation's collective achievements and marks an everlasting chapter in American basketball history.

I won't go into each individual's story; these people are all very familiar this year.

What I want to emphasize again today is: some media outlets, independent media, and media personnel probably don't even understand the Hall of Fame selection criteria or the so-called threshold...

On platforms, you might see "NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony," which is actually incorrect.

Ladies and gentlemen, the NBA (National Basketball Association) does not have a Hall of Fame.

What we commonly refer to as the Hall of Fame is officially called the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

It was established to honor Dr. James Naismith, who invented basketball in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts (now Springfield College).

Essentially, it is a museum displaying basketball-related documents, videotapes, media reports, DVDs, and other informational materials.

Many people here don't understand the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's induction criteria, largely due to misleading information from communicators.

You need to understand:

1. This is not the NBA Hall of Fame.

Who gets inducted has nothing to do with Adam Silver.

The Hall of Fame has a broad scope, honoring individuals worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to basketball.

2. The Hall of Fame is not just an honor roll.

It emphasizes "comprehensive contributions to basketball," not just statistics or trophy counts; NBA achievements are only one aspect.

The Naismith Hall of Fame is essentially a lifetime achievement award for basketball, considering athletic accomplishments, cultural impact, and historical significance.

3. The selection process is very rigorous.

According to the latest rules, players, coaches, and referees become eligible for nomination three years after retirement, while active coaches and referees must have at least 25 years of experience (not limited to the NBA) to be nominated.

Being nominated does not guarantee induction; the list is reviewed by a preliminary committee of seven members, and a nominee must receive approval from at least five members to move on to the final review.

Their detailed profiles and the preliminary committee's written opinions are then submitted to the final review committee, consisting of 24 members, where at least 18 must agree for formal induction.

In summary:

“Anthony never won a championship, how can he be inducted?”

“Vince Carter lowered the Hall of Fame standards!”

“Yao Ming’s best NBA result was only the second round, how could he get in?”

...

Such uninformed comments from basketball illiterates are really brainless; they don't even understand the standards, yet they speak recklessly.

Brother Melo has three Olympic gold medals.

Vince Carter transformed the Raptors and even changed the history of Canadian basketball.

Yao Ming needs no further introduction; as Asia's top basketball figure, he made outstanding contributions to the sport, especially in promotion and cultural exchange. During that special era, he was a vital bridge between China and the U.S.

So, just boldly step inside and that's it!

Writing this, I couldn't help but watch Yao Ming’s 2016 induction speech again.

How classic and how high-level it was.