SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – April 2, 2007 – Phil Jackson, who led the Lakers and Bulls to a record nine NBA titles, the 1966 NCAA Champions from Texas Western, University of North Carolina Coach Roy Williams, four time WNBA Championship coach Van Chancellor, referee Mendy Rudolph and international coaches Fedro Ferrandiz and Mirko Novosel were announced today as the newest members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2007. The announcement was made today in Atlanta, Georgia, site of the 2007 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Jackson and Texas Western were elected in their first year of consideration for election into the Hall of Fame. Novosel, Rudolph and Williams were first-time Finalists this year who had previously been reviewed by Screening Committees. Chancellor and Ferrandiz had been named Finalists in prior years.

To be elected a Finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2007 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass. September 6-8, 2007. Tickets to the 2007 Enshrinement Gala and Induction Celebration are on-sale now and available by calling the Hall of Fame at (413) 781-6500. Additional Enshrinement Weekend information can also be found at www.hoophall.com.

Click here for complete bios on this year's inductees.

SI.com: What is your reaction to Jackson's selection to the Hall of Fame?

Jack McCallum: "Phil was a slam dunk. It would have been terrible if he didn't get in. There is this eternal argument that he's always had talent, which is true, and Phil's been an easy target around the NBA because of that, plus the fact that he has a healthy ego. But I think he's great for the league and everyone thinks he's a great coach. He's a great game coach; it's not like he's just a guy who manages talent. He's not a guy who has his assistants do everything. If any coach does deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, it's Phil."
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Notified ahead of time by the Hall of Fame, the elected members are typically at the site of the Final Four for the announcement, but Jackson had his reasons for not being there.

Acknowledging there was "a lot of pressure to get to Atlanta," he said he would stay in Los Angeles because of "my work and our chance for the playoffs … it wasn't appropriate for me to leave my job."
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"Jackson a Hall of Famer? Smush knows why."

"...Parker has enjoyed the support and admiration of the only person who matters—Phil Jackson."
Read More (Hat tip to True Hoop)