Worthy, Thomas Head Hall of Fame Nominees

Former Laker James Worthy and Isiah Thomas were among 10 players and coaches nominated Wednesday for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Worthy was one of three former North Carolina players nominated, along with longtime Philadelphia 76er forward Bobby Jones and another former Laker, forward Bob McAdoo.

Former Milwaukee Buck swingman Sidney Moncrief also was proposed as a player, while Lute Olson of Arizona, Morgan Wootten of DeMatha High and Jim Phelan of Mount St. Mary’s were nominated as coaches.

Kentucky Athletic Director C.M. Newton and the late Junius Kellogg, a wheelchair basketball pioneer, were nominated as contributors.

To be elected, a nominee needs 18 votes from the 24-member Honors Committee. The inductees will be announced next month, with enshrinement ceremonies in October.

Worthy, now a broadcaster, was the quick, powerful, fastbreak finisher, who led North Carolina to the 1982 NCAA championship before starring with the Lakers.

Honored as one of the top 50 players in NBA history, the 6-foot-9 forward played on three Laker championship teams (1985, 1987 and 1988) and was chosen to seven NBA all-star teams.

Thomas, a former point guard who now owns the Continental Basketball Assn., led Indiana to the 1981 NCAA championship and the Detroit Pistons to the 1989 and 1990 NBA titles. Thomas, selected to the NBA all-star team in 12 of his 13 seasons in the league, was also honored as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players.

McAdoo was a three-time scoring champion with the Buffalo Braves and two-time NBA champion with the Lakers. He is now a Miami Heat assistant coach.