![Steve Nash is one of the players being inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 2018. [image source: Keith Allison- Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/9/8/660x290/b_502x220x82/steve-nash-is-one-of-the-players-being-inducted-into-the-hall-of-fame-in-2018-image-source-keith-allison-wikimedia-commons_2091593.jpg "Steve Nash is one of the players being inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 2018. [image source: Keith Allison- Wikimedia Commons]")
Every year, new players are inducted into the NBA Hall-of-Fame which is located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Last year's class featured Tracy McGrady being inducted but the 2016 Hall of Fame class was one of the most dominant in recent memory with Yao Ming, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O'Neal. It also featured one of the best college Basketball coaches in Tom Izzo who has won an NCAA championship as the coach of Michigan State and other great accomplishments. According to ESPN and Los Angeles Times, This years' class features three guards in Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Ray Allen who all played huge roles on the court as well as one small forward in Grant Hill.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa but was raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Despite being significantly smaller than opposing players on the court as he played in the era where the game was dominated by big men, he played a huge role on the court. What's so special about Nash's journey to the NBA was that he didn't play basketball until he was 12 or 13.
What made Nash a unique player was that he always had a pass before shoot mentality which led him to be the main playmaker for his team on the court. Nash was selected in the first round with pick 15 by the Suns in 1996. Over the course of his 18 seasons in the NBA, he spent time with the Suns (had two stints with them), Mavericks and Lakers.
Nash averaged 14.3 points, 8.5 assists and 3 rebounds. Nash also shot .428 percent from three and had a field goal percentage of .490. Nash also has the third most assists all-time and has the highest free throw percentage in NBA history with a free throw percentage of .904.
Nash won MVP in back-to-back seasons (2005 and 2006) as a member of the Suns and made eight all-star appearances.
He was also named to the All-NBA team three times, All-NBA second team two times and All-NBA third team two times as well. Nash will be entering as a member of the Suns as he spent 10 of his 18 seasons in Phoenix.
Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd was born in San Francisco, California but was raised in Oakland. Like Nash, he had a pass before shoot mentality which is why Kidd was always known for his passing abilities.
Kidd was selected second overall by the Mavericks in 1994. Kidd played with Nash on the Suns from 1996-1998 which then Nash got traded after the 1998 season. Kidd spent 19 seasons in the NBA and played on the Mavericks (two stints), Suns, New Jersey Nets (two stints) and Knicks.
In his career, he averaged 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 6.3 rebounds. Kidd also averaged 1.9 steals in his career. Kidd has been to the all-star game 10 times and led the league in assists on five separate occasions. Kidd was the Co-Rookie of the Year in 1995 with Grant Hill who is also being inducted into the Hall-of-Fame.
During his rookie year, Kidd averaged 11.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds to go along with 1.9 steals.
Kidd was named to the All-NBA team five times and the All-NBA second team once. He was also named to the All-NBA defensive first team four times and the All-NBA defensive second team five times. Kidd is second on the all-time list in assists and steals. On top of all that, Kidd was an NBA champion in 2011 as a member of the Mavericks. Kidd is entering the Hall-of-Fame as a member of the Nets where he spent seven seasons with.
Ray Allen
Allen was born in Merced, California but never settled in one area as a child as he had to move multiple times as his parents were in the military. As a child, he spent time living in England, Oklahoma, California, and Germany. It wasn't until he started high school that he settled down in Dalzell, South Carolina.
Some consider Allen to be the greatest shooter ever as he was an excellent three-point shooter. In his 18 year career where he spent time with the Bucks, Seattle Supersonics, Celtics and Heat, Allen averaged 18.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds. Allen was a 10-time all-star and was named once to both the All-NBA second and third team. Allen won two NBA championships and when he won for the second time in 2013, his shot in game six with 5.2 seconds left is regarded as one of the most historic plays in NBA history.
Grant Hill
Hill was born and raised in Dallas, Texas as his father was a Pro Bowl running back for the Cowboys. Hill was taken third overall by the Pistons in the 1994 draft, one pick after Kidd was selected.
Hill spent 18 seasons playing in the NBA and spent time on the Pistons, Magic, Suns, and Clippers. In his 18 year career, Hill averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 assists, and six rebounds. Hill made it to the all-star game seven times and made it to the All-NBA team once and All-NBA second team four times. In 1995, he was the Co-Rookie of the Year along with Jason Kidd. In his rookie year, he averaged 19.9 points, five assists and 6.4 rebounds along with 1.8 steals. Hill is currently a part owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
