GIVING BACK TO THE GAME

TEAMWORK   |  DETERMINATION   |  SELF-RESPECT   |  LEADERSHIP   |  INITIATIVE   |  PERSEVERANCE

COURAGE   |  SELF-SACRIFICE   |  LOYALTY   |  SELF-CONTROL   |  COOPERATION   |  SELF-CONFIDENCE

Our bias may show, but we think Dr. Naismith knew what he was doing when he created the sport in 1891. The seemingly simple instruction of "Put the ball in the basket" helped not only burn off some energy during a long, cold winter - but also brought out some profound skills for those who participated. And that continues today. No matter if we're playing, coaching, or just watching the game, we take the values we learn from the hardwood into every part of our lives long after the buzzer sounds. 

Whether creating interactive exhibits, offering community outreach programs that engage the hearts and minds of our youth, or showcasing memorabilia of our sport's greatest athletes, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's "Giving Back to the Game" Fund is at the heart of what we do.

Thank you for ensuring we have the resources needed to help us continue our mission of honoring the past and inspiring the future! 

"I tell every young person that the orange ball is truly magical. The things it’s done for me, the people it’s allowed me to meet, the places that I’ve been able to travel to, the world it's exposed me to, the things I could never have imagined."

Ray Allen

2018 Hall of Fame Induction Speech