History has been made - LeBron and Paul first active players in Hall of Fame

In the summer of 2004, Argentina, led by Manu Ginobili, won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens. It was a completely unexpected outcome. The U.S. had sent a somewhat weaker team than they were capable of, and they left without gold. That American squad still featured names like Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan, as well as a very young Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James—each of whom had only just completed their rookie seasons in the NBA and were far from their prime.

For example, LeBron averaged just 5.3 points per game during that tournament—a far cry from the rest of his career, where he has never averaged below 24.6 points per game. The bronze medal was considered a failure for Team USA, and plans for redemption in Beijing 2008 began almost immediately.

The team the U.S. sent to China was terrifyingly strong. They stormed through the Olympic tournament and claimed gold with little trouble. Spain tried to challenge them in the final but stood no chance. That American roster included: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony (now older, more mature, and improved), Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, and the legendary Kobe Bryant.

Kobe had missed the 2004 Olympics, and it was his presence in 2008 that tipped the scales in the USA’s favor. Due to the dominant way they won the gold, that team earned the nickname “The Redeem Team,” inspired by the legendary “Dream Team” from 1992. The Americans got their revenge that year, and from 2008 onward, they haven’t let go of the gold. Now, the entire 2008 Beijing team will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

LeBron James and Chris Paul will become the first players ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still active. It’s truly remarkable how long they’ve been playing—these two are also the oldest players currently in the league and are still performing at an exceptional level.

Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame are Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Danny Crawford, Billy Donovan, and Micky Arison.