The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, enshrines its 2018 class of inductees Friday night. Among the honorees: three who played for the Boston Celtics.
Ray Allen played five seasons in Boston, and helped lead the Celtics to the 2008 NBA title.
During a press conference, Allen said making the Hall of Fame was about more than just his achievements.
"I don't think so much about my career, as much as I think about the people who have gotten me to this point," Allen said. "My family, all the great coaches that I've had, all the people that really believed than I thought I actually was."
Before the pros, Allen starred at the University of Connecticut. He said his experience at UConn playing for another Hall-of-Famer, former Head Coach Jim Calhoun, helped him develop as a player.
"I wouldn't have known really how to function, focus, prepare," Allen said. "Coach Calhoun gave all of us a foundation. Eating breakfast -- one of the major, major components of my existence. Keeping my weight, learning how to get stronger, learning how to compete."
The other former Celtics entering the hall: Charlie Scott, who spent just shy of three seasons in Boston, and was a part of the 1976 championship team; and Dino Radja, who was a star player in Europe, and spent four seasons with the Celtics in the '90s.
Here is the complete 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement class:
Ray Allen (player): Allen was selected as All-Star ten times, Two-time NBA Champion, ten-time NBA All-Star, and 2000 Olympic gold medal recipient. He holds the record as NBA career leader in the total three-point goals made.
Maurice Cheeks (player): Four-time NBA All-Star, four-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, and retired fifth on the NBA career list for steals and assists.
Charles “Lefty” Driesell (coach): Historically, the only NCAA coach to win 100 games spanning between four different school and one of eleven coaches to lead four schools to NCAA tournaments.
Grant Hill (player): Seven-time NBA All-Star, 19-year NBA veteran, and in 2005, Hill was named one of the 50 Top College Players of All Time by ESPN. Hill is also a three-time recipient of the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award.
Jason Kidd (player): Kidd ranks second in NBA steals and assists, has won two Olympic gold medals, 10-time NBA All Star, and in 2007 he was given the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year award.
Steve Nash (player): Nash holds the record for NBA highest career free throw percentage, three-time All-NBA First Team member and an eight-time NBA All-Star.
Tina Thompson (player):The first player selected in the 1997 WNBA draft, nine-time WNBA All-Star, four-time WNBA Champion, and international player.
Dino Radja (player): Radja led his teams to several championships within the states and international, won three straight European League titles, and names one of the greatest EuroLeague Contributors.
Charlie Scott (player): Five-time All-Star during his career in the ABA and NBA, Scott was the first African American scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina.
Ora Mae Washington (player): Washington was credited as the greatest female athlete of her time and was a part of 11 straight Women’s Colored Basketball Championship teams.
Rod Thorn (contributor): Thorn has been in professional basketball for over 50 years as a player, coach and executive.
Rick Welts (contributor): NBA Executive credited for transforming the NBA All-Star Weekend, and current President and COO of the Golden State Warriors.
Katie Smith (player): First female Ohio State athlete to have her number retired, seven-time WNBA All-Star. Smith is the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball, having scored over 7,000 points in both her ABL and WNBA career.
Source: Basketball Hall of Fame
