Ontario Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame celebration returns with star-studded inductees

OSHAWA, Ont. — It’s no secret that basketball continues to reach new heights in Canada by the day.

The country is only months removed from celebrating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after he capped off a historically great MVP season with an NBA championship, and is now also less than a year away from cheering on the Toronto Tempo as they embark on their inaugural WNBA campaign.

And while those milestones represent how far the sport has come in this country, stakeholders want to ensure fans don’t forget to look back and appreciate those who helped lead the game this far amid all the excitement and focus on what’s ahead.

Which is why, for the first time in seven years, the Ontario Basketball Association (OBA) brought back its Hall of Fame induction celebration on Tuesday night to recognize community leaders, storytellers, executives and players who’ve impacted the sport both in the province and country.

“You don’t want to forget the past and people that are growing the game,” Claude Nembhard, CEO of Ontario Basketball, told Sportsnet. “We’re always trying to focus on the future, but we cannot forget the past, and we have to show love to the people that built the game.”

After delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the OBA made up for the lost time by honouring inductees from the classes of 2020, 2022 and 2024 during the festivities at Durham College, where the organization hosted its 11 newest Hall of Famers along with their families and friends.

“This class of players, voices and visionaries represents the heart and soul of basketball in Ontario,” said Ryan Xavier, president of Ontario Basketball, in a statement. “From courts to communities, their contributions have shaped the game in meaningful ways. We’re proud to honour their legacy, celebrate their stories, and recognize the lasting impact they’ve had.”

Among the latest inductees were a handful of media members, including a pair of Sportsnet contributors in Michael Grange and Paul Jones.

Grange is a senior basketball analyst who’s worked with the outlet as a columnist since 2011 and a member of Sportsnet’s broadcast team since 2013. His work covering the Toronto Raptors, the NBA and Canadian basketball has spanned the careers of greats Michael Jordan and Steve Nash, as well as stars of today such as Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s also authored six books, including two bestsellers, en route to winning Canada’s Sportswriter of the Year in 2020.

“It’s an absolute honour to be part of this incredible class,” Grange said while addressing the audience on Tuesday. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I honestly never believed I would be considered a Hall of Famer in any stretch, it’s incredibly humbling to be here.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be here with so many friends and colleagues who I’ve looked up to, so all I can say is thank you.”

Jones is as a colour analyst on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and co-hosts the Smith and Jones show, and has long been a voice in Canadian basketball, going back to the Raptors’ inaugural season in 1995. His work also includes covering major international events such as the 1992 and 2012 Olympics.

Meanwhile, the two former professional players inducted into the OBA Hall of Fame on Tuesday were Tammy Sutton-Brown and Jamaal Magloire.

Brown, a two-time WNBA all-star, is a trailblazer for women’s basketball in Canada. The Markham, Ont., native is still the only Canadian to win a WNBA title (2012). She split 12 seasons between the Charlotte Sting and Indiana Fever, and also competed internationally for over 11 years. Brown currently works in athlete marketing for Nike but previously held a leadership role in basketball operations with Toronto’s NBA G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.

Magloire enters the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame after a 12-year NBA career that saw him earn an all-star nod and become the first Canadian to play for the Raptors. Before his time in the NBA, the Scarborough, Ont., native also won an NCAA championship with the University of Kentucky.

“Big Cat” now serves as an assistant coach and community ambassador for the Raptors and is also the vice president and a senior advisor to the CEBL’s Scarborough Shooting Stars.

Magloire described the induction as a “great honour” but was quick to turn the focus away from himself and onto the work being done by grassroots organizations like the OBA and how they’ve helped impact basketball positively.

“I think (the OBA) is important because it gives kids an opportunity to dream, it gives them an opportunity to have a start,” Magloire explained. “It’s a great platform to use that we weren’t able to 20 years ago. … We have over 20 guys in the NBA right now, so the movement’s been getting bigger and stronger, and I just want to keep that going.”

And as the OBA was busy honouring its newest inductees, one of the organization’s top executives in Nembhard received some unexpected recognition as well.

Minister Vijay Thanigasalam (MPP for Scarborough — Rouge Park) announced on Tuesday that the Ontario Basketball CEO was being nominated for the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the provincial government, a national honour recognizing Canadians for significant contributions to their country, region or communities.

It wasn’t the only surprise for Nembhard on the night as his sons Andrew and Ryan —both of whom are now in the NBA, as Ryan signed with the Dallas Mavericks after going undrafted in June — made an impromptu appearance for the occasion as their father received the news.

“It’s very humbling and I’m very thankful,” the eldest Nembhard said. “Basketball is my love, and I’m here to give back. So it’s nice to be recognized for that, but it’s not why you do it. Still, it’s very nice … so I really appreciate it.”

Inductees honoured by Ontario Basketball on Tuesday night:

Class of 2020Jack ArmstrongDan GladmanPaul JonesMichael Grange

Class of 2022Jason JanssonCarlos SousaWallie LandichoJohn Petrushchak

Class of 2024Jamaal MagloireTammy Sutton-BrownLeah MacNab