The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that 12-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer Earvin Magic Johnson, Hall of Fame Coach Pat Summitt and youth basketball ambassador Boo Williams, have all been named winners of the 2013 Mannie Jackson - Basketball’s Human Spirit Award. The winners will be recognized on September 7th during events leading up to the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies.
“This year’s winners of the Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award have all contributed greatly to the game of basketball and are active members in their community,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “It is an honor to recognize and celebrate these three distinguished humanitarians, all of whom have dedicated their lives to helping others through the game they love.”
The criteria for award winners includes embracing the core values of the game, hard work, striving to improve the community and making a commitment to others. Beyond the game, award winners must reflect the values of Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo, while taking responsibility for his or her actions and seeking the highest standard of excellence.
Johnson, Summitt and Williams were chosen from a group of nine finalists after nominations were screened by a distinguished selection committee, appointed by the Hall of Fame and Mr. Jackson. Beginning in 2009, the finalists were grouped in three categories, representing the professional, amateur and grassroots levels of basketball.
Previous winners of the award include current NBA players Grant Hill, Chauncey Billups and Samuel Dalembert; former NBA All-Star and Georgetown standout Alonzo Mourning; former Harlem Globetrotter and college basketball All-American Dr. John “Jumpin’ Johnny” Kline; former Georgetown University center and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo; Philadelphia legend Sonny Hill; former NBA official Ken Hudson; Hall of Famers Bob Lanier, David Robinson, Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun; President and CEO of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport, Dr. Richard Lapchick and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Representing the Amateur ranks:
Pat Summitt – For nearly four decades, Summitt led the Tennessee Lady Vols program to 16 SEC Championships, eight NCAA titles and seven NCAA Coach of the Year awards. In August 2011, Summitt announced that she was battling with early onset dementia, “Alzheimer’s type.” She finished the 2011-12 season and in November, she revealed the formation of her foundation, the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund with the proceeds going toward cutting-edge research. The Huntington Post named Summitt a 2011 Game Changer – an innovator, leader and role model who is changing the way we look at the world and the way we live. President Barack Obama presented her on April 19, 2012 in the White House with the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom award. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
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