Defensive great Dikembe Mutombo is announced as one of twelve finalists for entrance into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 14, 2015)(NBA TV) – Defensive wizard Dikembe Mutombo was named one of 12 finalists for entrance into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday (February 14) at Madison Square Garden as NBA All-Star weekend festivities continued.

Mutombo, the shot-blocking Congolese center who was honored four times as NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was among six players, five coaches and a referee to make the short list for possible election in 2015.

He was joined by seven-time NBA All-Star Jo Jo White, Tim Hardaway, Spencer Haywood and Kevin Johnson, and three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie as former players up for consideration in the Springfield, Massachusetts-based Hall.

Other finalists are two-time U.S. College Coach of the Year John Calipari, two-time NBA Coach of the Year Bill Fitch, college coach Bo Ryan and high school coaches Robert Hughes and Leta Andrews, and 39-year NBA referee Dick Bavetta.

“I’m very happy to be here,” the 7-foot-2 (2.18 m) Mutombo said about being considered for the Hall of Fame.