Michele Timms to be enshrined in FIBA Hall of Fame
Basketball Australia Hall of Fame inductee Michele Timms legacy is set to be honoured once more, named as one of eight world-class basketball icons across seven different countries to be enshrined in FIBA's Hall of Fame on Saturday, 27 August in Geneva and Mies, Switzerland.
Michele Timms | Credit: AZ Central
Timms will be inducted into FIBA's Hall of Fame alongside some of the world's best international players, coaches and administrators. Notable inductees include former NBA commissioner David Stern, the late Juan Antonio Samaranch (former President of the International Olympic Committee) and NBA legend Hakeen Olajuwon.
Timms was a true basketball pioneer, paving the way for Australian women to play professionally overseas, both in Europe and in the WNBA. She also helped break down gender barriers, taking on an assistant coaching role with the South Dragons in the NBL after a short stint as an assistant coach with the Mercury in the WNBA. She would also go on to be an assistant coach of the Chinese and Australian national teams and also taking on an assistant role at her beloved Bulleen (now Melbourne) Boomers.
Timms would still love to see more improvements made to the sport for female athletes.
“I’d like to see venues filled and equal media exposure for all female athletes, we have so many great stories to tell from the WNBL and Opals teams but none get told,” Timms declared.
Timms list of Achievements
Was the first Australian female basketballer to play professionally in Europe (Germany)
Played 264 matches for Australia
Played 285 WNBL matches and won five Championships – 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
Named All-WNBL team 7 times - 1988–92, 1994, 1996
Represented Australia in four World Championships – 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998
Represented Australia in three Olympics Games – 1988, 1996, 2000
Basketball Australia Merit Award – 1991
Two-time Basketball Australia International Player of the Year – 1994, 1996
Played in the inaugural season of the WNBA for Phoenix Mercury – 1996
Captained the Opals to their first Olympic silver medal in 2000
Her No. 7 Phoenix Mercury WNBA singlet was retired in 2001
Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2003
Inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2006
Elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Timms has served as a role model for players both at home in Australia and abroad. Her recognition by FIBA to be bestowed upon her in August, is just recognition for a true legend of the sport.
2016 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame
Players
Panagiotis Fasoulas (Greece)
Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria/USA)
Manuel Raga (Mexico)
Juan Antonio San Epifanio (Spain)
Michele Timms (Australia)
Coach
Jorge Canavesi (Argentina)
Contributors
Juan Antonio Samaranch (posthumous - Spain)
David Stern (USA)