Big 5 announces new class for Hall of Fame

Fitting that the day it was announced he would be included in this year's Big 5 Hall of Fame class, Rick Brunson was in Philadelphia.

Now an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, Brunson earned his credentials at Temple under John Chaney, then spent 9 years in the NBA with eight teams.

Though he is from Salem, Mass., and played all over the country, Brunson has an affinity for this great basketball city.

"This is my home," he said before the Bulls took on the 76ers last night. "After I came here in 1991, I never left. I love coming back here. I love everything about Philly.

"Everyone considers me a Philadelphia player because of coach Chaney. He taught me how to play the game the right way. I'm a Philly guy."

Joining Brunson in the Class of '11 will be Villanova's Kerry Kittles, Saint Joseph's Rashid Bey, Penn's Jewel Clark and Temple's Stacey Smalls.

Because of Chaney's teaching and his unshakable playing style, Brunson became a vagabond player in the NBA on whom any team could rely in a pinch. His most productive season was as a Los Angeles Clipper in 2004-05 when he played 80 games, started 39 and averaged 24.3 minutes, 5.5 points and 5.1 assists, all career highs.

"When Temple contacted me [about his Hall of Fame induction], I just asked them to tell me when and where and I'd be there," Brunson said. "I called coach and told him I hoped he would be there. I'll have my mom there and everybody else. It's very flattering and unexpected."

As much as a Hall of Fame induction is an individual award, Brunson certainly doesn't see it that way.

"I had a bunch of great teammates and, obviously, an outstanding coach," he said. "When I got to Temple, they didn't talk about winning the Atlantic 10 or getting to the NCAA Tournament, the talk was all about winning the Big 5. That's how important it was to coach and to the players. That is another reason this is so special to me, because of how special the Big 5 is to me."

And now he's among the elite.

The induction ceremony will take place during a luncheon at the Palestra on Friday, Jan. 21. Tickets ($40) can be purchased at philadelphiabig5.org.