LaMont “Showboat” Robinson was nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and 2019, but the former professional basketball player with the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals did not get in. So he decided to create his own Hall of Fame for those in the basketball community deserving of recognition, but may not receive it from the Naismith.
Robinson founded the American Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, in one of the meccas of basketball, Detroit, Michigan. The Motor City has produced some greats on the hardwood, at every level, and Robinson plans to honor their accomplishments at the inaugural ceremony Sunday, October 13 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Tickets for the 2019 induction ceremony are $25, followed by a free V.I.P. after party at Bert’s Warehouse in Eastern Market.
“I wanted to create a basketball Hall of Fame for those unknown names, playground legends, and those who didn’t make the NBA, but still made an impact in the basketball world,” said Robinson, who played basketball for 28 years. “Not everyone is going to get into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, so we want to give them an opportunity to make it into ours.”
The inaugural class will induct 18 honorees, many who starred at the high school level in Detroit, college or for the Detroit Pistons. Former No.1 overall NBA draft pick in 1990 and Rookie of the Year, Derrick Coleman (Detroit Northern), headlines the list, along with NBA legend Spencer Haywood (Detroit Pershing), and Fab Five member and former NBA standout Jalen Rose (Detroit Southwestern). In addition to being inducted into 2019 class, Haywood will receive The Will Robinson Basketball Lifetime Achievement Award.
Two legendary Detroit high school coaches are going into the American Basketball Hall of Fame, including Will Robinson, who led the Pershing Doughboys to two Class A state titles in 1967 and 1970, became the first African American head coach at a NCAA Division I school at Illinois State University in 1970, and was also a scout for the Detroit Pistons for 28 years.
Perry Watson led the Southwestern Prospectors from 1979-1991, winning nine PSL city titles, and appearing in nine Class A state title games, winning two in 1990 and 1991. He also coached two Michigan Mr. Basketball awardees and Hall of Fame inductees, Antoine “The Judge” Joubert (1983) and Jalen Rose (1991).
Former Detroit Pistons legends being inducted include Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson, who played on the 1988 and 1989 Bad Boys championship teams, sharp-shooter John Long, and long-time television announcer George Blaha.
“With basketball being so global, we need another basketball Hall of Fame,” said Robinson. “This is going to be a great event and we have people from all over the world coming to celebrate some legends in the Detroit basketball community.”
Along with the basketball Hall of Fame, Robinson and his team also plan to spearhead community service initiatives in Detroit, using the game of basketball to address violence in the city. Their plan is to renovate the former Jameson Elementary School on Detroit’s west side, transforming it into a world-class basketball incubator, where kids can play ball, do school work, and receive mentoring.
“We want to make it a place where kids can come play basketball, train, and have a place for 24-hour midnight basketball,” said Robinson. “We also want to implement after school programs there. Maybe we can keep the youth of Detroit from getting killed on the streets and give them something productive to do.”
The 2019 inaugural class of the American Basketball Hall of Fame is dominated by Detroit talent, but Robinson said they will expand globally in 2020, and include women players.
The American Basketball Hall of Fame Weekend kicks off on Friday, October 11 with a free meet and greet at Bert’s Warehouse. Saturday, October 12, there will be a V.I.P. pre-induction ceremony in honor of the 2019 Inductees at Bert’s Warehouse. Attire is black, and gold and tickets are $15.00. All tickets can be purchase at Bert’s. For more information or to purchase tickets online for any of the events, visit www.basketballhall.net.
2019 American Basketball Hall of Fame inductees:
- Sam Jones-NBA
- Derrick Coleman-NBA
- Spencer Haywood-NBA
- Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson-NBA
- Willie Burton-NBA
- Jalen Rose-NBA
- Archie Clark-NBA
- LaMont “ShowBoat” Robinson
- Al Gibson
- Howard White
- Stanly Ruffin
- George Blaha
- Curtis “Flint” Bloxson
- Coach Will Robinson
- Tim McCormick-NBA
- John Long-NBA
- Antoine “The Judge” Joubert
- Coach Perry Watson
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