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Herb Simon, Hall of Famer.
The Indiana Pacers owner since 1983 has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. It was officially announced Saturday morning in Glendale, Ariz. at the men’s Final Four. Winners were informed of the news on April 1.
Other members of the Class of 2024:
Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Seimone Augustus, Bo Ryan, Doug Collins, Jerry West, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Charles Smith, Dick Barnett, Harley Redin and Michele Timms.
This comes just a few months after Simon was named a first-time nominee for the Hall of Fame. Then, at Indy’s All-Star Weekend in February, he was announced as a finalist for the contributor category — along with Doug Collins and Jerry West.
The enshrinement ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17 in Springfield, Mass.
Simon, 89, bought the Pacers with his late brother, Mel, $11 million and has now owned the franchise for 40 years.
This adds to a spectacular year for Simon, a businessman and longtime owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment — which also includes the Mad Ants, Fever, Pacers Gaming and Pacers Foundation.
- They completed $400 million in renovations to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the outside area.
- Indy hosted NBA All-Star Weekend for the second time.
- Bicentennial Unity Plaza opened
- Commission Row opened
Next up, the Pacers should reach the postseason for the first time since 2020 — and then the Fever have the No. 1 overall selection in the WNBA Draft on April 15.
“I’ve been in it a long time at this thing and the beautiful thing is I still enjoy it,” Simon said a few years ago. “And I really believe it’s a team for the community also. I’m very sensitive to the community and being responsible to our community that’s been very supportive of us.”
Before the season, he chose to sell an additional 15% equity of Pacers Sports & Entertainment to Steven Rales.
