Bulls star Chet Walker finally gets Hall of Fame call

ORLANDO, Fla. – After falling short several times, former Bulls forward Chet Walker finally will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was honored by the Veterans Committee on Friday and will be inducted as part of the class of 2012 with four others who made it through direct election: Mel Daniels, voted by the American Basketball Association Committee; Don Barksdale from the Early African-American Pioneers Committee; Lidia Alexeeva from the International Committee; and Phil Knight from the Contributors Committee.

Former Pacers great Reggie Miller could join Walker as part of the class of 2012.

Miller was joined as a first-time finalist by coach Rick Pitino, former NBA coach Bill Fitch and two-time Olympic gold medalist Katrina McClain.

On the ballot again are Don Nelson, Maurice Cheeks, Bernard King, Dick Motta, Hank Nichols, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes and the All-American Red Heads, known as the female version of the Harlem Globetrotters and the first women’s professional basketball team.

The full 2012 class will be announced April 2 at the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.