A true 7-footer, Jack Sikma played basketball in an era when the game’s most effective big men were confined to a spot deep in the post, back turned to the basket, extended arm calling for the pass, forever trying to score from two feet in. Last night, Jack Sikma was entered into the NBA Hall of Fame. Jack Sikma when he was named All-Star for 7th time by 1985. He was known for his trademark reverse pivot and step back behind-the-head jumper, coined as the "Sikma move", along with his distinctive curly, blond hair during his playing days. Jack Sikma was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the eighth pick in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft. Jack Sikma (Born 1955) Hall of Fame Induction: 2019 Card Shown: 2018-19 Panini Impeccable Immortal Ink Position: C Height: 6’11” bb. By stepping out, that creates the space.’, “So even though it was a long time ago, they had film. Jack Sikma is officially being enshrined with the other immortals of basketball. Still, it’s the quick inside step about 10 feet from the hoop that puts Sikma in a select subset of Hall of Famers already enshrined and those who will be. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Sign up to receive NBA emails! I’m not saying Sikma should be on the Mt. Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake,” Kevin McHale’s up-and-under, George Gervin’s finger roll, Dominique Wilkins’ double-pump reverse, Allen Iverson’s crossover, Dirk Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway and Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook will be joined, in time, by James Harden’s step-back 3-pointer, Manu Ginobili’s Euro-step, LeBron James’ chase-down block and Steph Curry’s long range pull-up 3. Fellow IWU alum Wayne Messmer will sing The Star-Spangled Banner. Sikma was a more skilled, more polished player than most men his size, adept at passing and capable of stretching the floor with his soft touch. He went on to play fourteen years in the league, nine with the Sonics and five with the Milwaukee Bucks. Former NBA player Jack Sikma speaks during a … Lenny and Jack shared stories of the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics, who celebrate the 40th anniversary of their NBA Championship this Saturday. The former NBA standout played well in his first competitive game in more than a year. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 2 in D3Hoops Poll, Titans to Challenge Big Blue in Tuesday Tilt, Men's Hoops Tweaks Schedule, Will Travel to Millikin Tuesday, Rose Rises on the All-Time Wins List as IWU Overpowers North Park. During his final three seasons – from age 33 to 35 – Sikma shot 550 times from behind the arc and made 196 (35.6 percent). He was inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame in September in Springfield, Mass. “They made it look good, so it was effective,” Sikma said. Sikma’s Hall of Fame Standards score* is 52, a score that puts him above the median Hall of Famer. It’s not a travel,” Sikma said. bb. Opponents weren’t the only ones made uncomfortable by Sikma’s unusual tactic. Just as Abdul-Jabbar ranks as the NBA’s most prolific scorer and arguably its greatest player ever, so does his signature sky hook loom as the league’s most famous individual move. But that only matters if the idea works. Sikma’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is set for Sept. 5-7 in Springfield, Mass. Most unstoppable, too, and for defenders, most deflating. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. That’s his move! BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Jack Sikma, who graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1977 and went on to be a seven-time National Basketball Association all-star, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night, Sept. 6, as part of the class of 2019. Or in this case, move recognizing move. In fact, Sikma is the only eligible player with a score of 50 or higher who is not in the Hall of Fame. Sikma will be inducted to the NBA's Hall of Fame this September. 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Sikma played collegiately at … Sports Jack Sikma, headed to the Hall of Fame, turned SuperSonics into champions. And I don’t think I ever did.”. That motion would set up him a few feet back, facing the hoop, allowing for a simple hop and shot. By his senior season, he averaged 27.0 points. He put Jack on the perimeter to take the big men out of the lane so we could make plays.”. Holding the ball with his back to the basket, rather than turning on his pivot foot to the outside and attacking over his shoulder, he would spin to the inside. This Saturday, Sikma will throw out the first pitch at the Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Not Jack Sikma. Jack Sikma Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame. #19HoopClass pic.twitter.com/zBppYhwzCe, Meet #19HoopClass enshrinee Jack Sikma! He said, ‘Jack, I think this is it.’ And I said, ‘I’m not uncomfortable with the pivot.’”. Jack Sikma, who helped lead the Sonics to a 1979 NBA championship, will be a 2019 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame. “You didn’t know which way he was going to go with it,” said fellow inductee Bobby Jones, a Sikma contemporary known for his defensive prowess. About The Hall. Rushmore of NBA centers, but wouldn’t you say he belongs in the Hall… Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. Sikma, who starred in the NBA from 1977-91 and was a Timberwolves assistant from 2011-14, was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jack Sikma, all-star center for the 1978-79 NBA champion Seattle SuperSonics, was officially elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. By clicking "Submit", you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. — When Jack Sikma officially enters the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night, one of his presenters will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Fred had seen it enough in practice and figured it out.”, Sikma had another facet to his game with which current NBA fans might be more familiar: he was a protypical “stretch 5.”, Said Sidney Moncrief, another 2019 Hall newcomer who played for Milwaukee before and after Sikma was traded there for his final five seasons: “People don’t remember this about Jack Sikma, but Don Nelson was the first coach who started emphasizing 3-point shots for big men. Nikola Jokic celebrated his birthday in style vs. Cleveland, and Nikola Vucevic also tallied a triple-double against the Warriors. WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. Inductee Jack Sikma, right, stands with presenter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony Friday in Springfield, Mass. The Hall of Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq. To ever leave your man that much, there’s a danger there.”. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting. It might create a little space for Jack.’ I was really thin – I just wanted to get dislodged from the defender.”. UPDATED: Sun., April 7, 2019. I was just sitting there thinking, with all the other [inductees], if I ever blocked his shot. Including the one about the slender, blond kid from Kankakee, Illinois, whose offensive game needed a makeover. Call it the Alcove of Famous Moves. The 2019 Enshrinement Ceremony at Springfield’s Symphony Hall will air on NBA TV Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. pic.twitter.com/nmFa8sbg0s, Balanced Effort Pushes Titans Past Big Blue, Movin' On Up: Men's Hoops to No. Get ready for Friday's ESPN doubleheader with five key stats to know about each matchup. As Sikma honed it in the NBA, at 6-foot-11, he would hold the ball above his head with a high release point that gave him the option of flipping up his shot or faking, then powering inside. It was the reverse pivot or inside pivot, which were its names when it was an arcane maneuver used by a small number of big men, taught mostly at the sport’s lower levels. Sikma’s 17,287 career points rank 90th. “If I tried to do the sky hook, if I tried to do the up-and-under, you’d probably think, ‘Meh, that’s not such a good move.’ A lot of it has to do with how effective a person is doing it.”. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — NBA stars Vlade Divac, Sidney Moncrief and Jack Sikma are the headliners of the 2019 class for the Basketball Hall of Fame. Or in this case, move recognizing move. Sonics legend Jack Sikma to be inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame. Not unlike current Bucks center Brook Lopez, Sikma underwent a late-career transformation as a deep threat. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ET. Which is a terrific example of game recognizing game. Even Basketball-Reference, which uses an objective methodology to determine one’s merits, pegs Sikma’s Hall of Fame Probability at 65.9%. The move came as no surprise within the organization, as it understood from the beginning that Duncan would assist Popovich for only a short period. “The only thing I could ever have done was maybe come from behind and get him,” Jones said. Seattle Supersonics’ Jack Sikma turns toward the basket to shoot as San Antonio Spurs’ Mark Olberding defends during an NBA playoff basketball game in Seattle on May 6, 1982. Jones, at 6-foot-9, matched up with him early in Sikma’s career (when Sikma was cast as a power forward for Seattle). NBA center and current Sacramento GM Vlade Divac was chosen by the international committee. “If there was a hall of fame for just great people, Jack Sikma would be in it for sure.” The 64-year-old Sikma only recently retired from basketball. When Sikma entered the league as the 8th pick by the Sonics in 1977, he had a distinctive ‘Dutch look’, as … 9/6/2019 6:45:00 PM, Jack Sikma talks about his illustrious basketball career and the 'Sikma Move,' in his @Hoophall speech. The … After many years as an assistant coach in the NBA, he served as a consultant with the NBA champion Toronto Raptors last season. Jack Sikma, taken out of an obscure NAIA school, Illinois Wesleyan, turned out to be a perfect fit in Seattle. “That’s not the concept of big-men play, right? Nuggets guard pours in explosive, historical performance in blowout victory over Cavaliers. Sonics legend Jack Sikma has been selected into the 2019 Basketball Hall of Fame class. “I’d get called and Fred was in the ref’s face, ‘That’s his move! Want every headline right at your fingertips? Longtime Warriors player, coach and executive Al Attles was elected as a contributor. “But he was a pretty good passer too. “Most of the time he would go back and shoot that shot, but sometimes he would go forward and draw the contact. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. “My college coach [Dennie Bridges] and I sat down and he said, ‘Jack, you’ve just got to be more effective in the post if you want to take the next step.’ I was a good shooter – I’d learned the game as a wing and grew late, so I was comfortable facing the basket. National Basketball Coaches Association named Harris winner of award named after Chuck Daly, Jayson Tatum comes up short on two key shots, one a monster blocked dunk by Miami center Bam Adebayo, to help seal the Celtics' fate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Pacers guard last played on January 23, 2019, suffering a ruptured quadricep. He is ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com. Each became or has become a signature move. I’ve got my foot up in the air, I plant it and then I pivot on it. Jack Sikma. Jack Sikma reminisces on his early career while talking with Daily Journal reporter Lee Provost at the Kankakee Country Club. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Vlade Divac and Jack Sikma were big men who could pass and hit a jump … The Illinois-born Sikma was a 7-time NBA All-Star, enjoying a 14 -year career with the Sonics and the Milwaukee Bucks. The game between Indiana and Houston will be rescheduled at a later date. And then there’s this priceless Hubie Brown interview, in which Sikma teaches the move: “A lot of coaches would pooh-pooh it because you’re catching the ball in one spot and then you’re stepping three feet farther away from the basket,” Sikma said. Basically, Sikma choreographically held a mirror to the post-up moves of traditional centers of the time. But I’ve got to hand it to Coach. © 2021 Illinois wesleyan university athletics, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Columnist Larry Stone article in April 6, 2019, video platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. Just as Abdul-Jabbar ranks as the NBA’s most prolific scorer and arguably its greatest […] Divergent paths, compelling stories all. — Jack Sikma used his Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech to make a plea for the NBA to return to Seattle, where he led … Well, Sikma had a signature move of his own, one that helped elevate him from an NAIA program at Illinois Wesleyan to seven NBA All-Star appearances, a championship with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 and now to the brink of his craft’s highest honor. Take a look back at the legendary career of Jack Sikma as he is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame! Now, his brilliant career is being honored with a Hall of Fame induction. But I got called two or three times doing it.”, Sikma laughed, recalling chatty Sonics teammate Fred Brown pleading his case for him to some of the referees. In his first 11 seasons, Sikma took 68 3-pointers and made seven (10.3 percent). His numbers are better than current members such as Chris Mullin and Alonzo Mourning. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. Sikma went from averaging 15.4 points as a freshman to 20.3 as a sophomore, with his shots increasing from 14.5 per game to 17.9. You agree that your personal information will be used to send you messages about NBA related products and services, and share your personal information with NBA partners and affiliates so that they can also contact you about products and services that might be of interest to you. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. “It was just an experiment after my freshmen season,” Sikma said Thursday at the Hall, after being introduced at a news conference as one of the Class of 2019’s 12 honorees. “That weekend in Springfield, the … Once Sikma learned it in 1974, brought it with him to the NBA in 1977 and helped the Sonics reach The Finals as a rookie and win the championship a year later, though, it swiftly became known as his: The Sikma move. He was announced as a member of the 2019 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. — When Jack Sikma officially enters the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night, one of his presenters will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. ft. of basketball history. “He had a friend who suggested, ‘Hey, down in southern Illinois there are some coaches who do an inside pivot with their guys to face the hoop. Others being inducted this weekend: coach Bill Fitch; NBA stars Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief and Paul Westphal; as well as WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon. Which is a terrific example of game recognizing game. So he wanted every edge he could get. Men's Basketball They checked it out and they realized it wasn’t a walk. He should be. Sikma finished his playing career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Jack Sikma (Player):Sikma was chosen for seven straight All Star Games (1979 to 1985) and would help the Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship in 1979. Today the Metropolitan King County Council was joined by 3-time Basketball Hall of Fame Player and Coach Lenny Wilkens in recognizing Jack Sikma for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Jack Sikma, who spent the final five seasons of his NBA career with the Bucks, will also be inducted in the 2019 hall of fame class. (Barry Wong / … Finally, there are two college team entries: the Wayland Baptist women’s teams from 1948-82 and the Tennessee A&I teams from 1957-59. Being honored posthumously are: guard Carl Braun, a star in the 1950s; and Chuck Cooper, the first black player drafted by an NBA team (Boston, 1950). So why isn't Jack Sikma in the Hall of Fame? Other names in his 2019 Class included Vlade Divac, Sidney Moncrief and Teresa Weatherspoon. — When Jack Sikma officially enters the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night, one of his presenters will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Later, Jones had to decide how much help to give the teammate guarding Sikma.