Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony 2015: Time, TV schedule, live stream and inductees

Lisa Leslie and Dikembe Mutombo headline the class of 2015, which will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday.

by Jeje Gomez

Sep 11, 2015, 11:00 AM UTC

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will enshrine its 2015 class this Friday, Sept. 11. Dikembe Mutombo and Lisa Leslie headline the class, which includes nine other members.

Mutombo, who ranks second all-time in total blocks in NBA history, is one of six players being inducted. The others are Jo Jo White, Louis Dampier, John Isaacs, Lisa Leslie and Spencer Haywood. John Calipari, Tommy Heinsohn and Lindsay Gaze are the three coaches that will get their place in Springfield, while referee Dick Bavetta and contributor George Raveling round off the class.

Leslie is a living legend in women’s basketball, having won four Olympic gold medals and two WNBA championships while being named WNBA MVP three times. She was nominated by the women’s committee and will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Mutombo will also be getting in on the first year of eligibility, both thanks to the impact he made on the court over an illustrious 18-year career as well as the humanitarian work he continues to do off the court.

The rest of the players’ class is equally deserving, featuring a pioneer from a league that predates the NBA as well as ABA and NBA standouts from the ‘70s. As for the coaches, Heinsohn and Calipari really need no introduction thanks to their championships at the NBA and NCAA level, respectively. Gaze is more of an unknown to the American public, but is one of Australia’s most revered coaches and has represented his country in seven Olympics. Dick Bavetta is as recognizable as any referee in NBA history after 39 seasons in the league. Raveling, meanwhile, is a lifer who broke down racial barriers and had a long career as a college coach.

As always, the event is a can’t miss for die hard basketball fans.