Lindsay Gaze first Australian into Naismith Hall of Fame
An icon of Australian basketball, Lindsay Gaze, a man who put the glorified name on the map, will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this Saturday, September 12 (Australian time).
Gaze was one of five hall of fame direct elect members after being elected from the International Committee.
His list of accomplishments flow on throughout history in Australian basketball and the Gaze name will now not only live on throughout basketball on our shores, it will stand tall amongst the worlds greats in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Lindsay Gaze plaque currently placed on Basketball Victoria's Wall of Fame (at State Basketball Centre)
Taken from his Hall of Fame blurb, Gaze was a monumental mark in the sports history:
Gaze, a native of Adelaide, South Australia, has represented his country in seven Olympics as both a player and coach. He played for the Australian national team in 1960, the first year Australia sent a team to the Olympics, as well as 1964 and 1968. He then coached the Australian national team in the following four Olympic games (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984). Gaze coached the Melbourne Tigers of the NBL winning two championships (1993,1997). He was named Coach of the Year for the National Basketball League three times (1989, 1997, 1999). Gaze is a member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame and FIBA Hall of Fame.
Gaze will be joined by 10 fellow inductees later in the week, when the group forms together for the occasion. Referee Dick Bavetta, college coach John Calipari, NBA All-Stars Spencer Haywood, Dikembe Mutombo and Jo Jo White join multiple WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie, Louis Dampier, John Isaacs, Tom Heinsohn and George Raveling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P14I4kG9y-M