LSU icon Seimone Augustus describes surreal moment with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird at Naismith Hall of Fame event
Seimone Augustus was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October. It was her fourth induction of the year, after the East Baton Rouge Parish Hall of Fame, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. It was one of the biggest nights of her basketball career.
Augustus, now an assistant coach for the LSU women's basketball team, began by singing Garth Brooks’ "Calling Baton Rouge," which has become a school anthem, to honor the city. However, for her, the night provided more as she witnessed NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in her company.
"It still doesn't process, like, when I was in the room, I'm looking around, it was like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson," Augustus said on the "In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams" podcast on Monday (Timestamp: 4:38). "All these different players have had their moments in time. We grew up watching them, and you just never put yourself in a position.
"Even though you love the game, but I'm standing in the room and I'm like, 'Should I even be here?' But you look at your accomplishments and your accolades and things that you've done for the game, and you're like, 'Yeah, I should be here.'
"It's just a matter of emerging to the heat of the moment, just soaking it up and let it sink in. It still really hasn't sunk in but it was an amazing experience."
Seimone Augustus mentioned other legends in her speech
After thanking her teammates, coaches, family, the Naismith committee and others, Seimone Augustus also thanked many legends (Timestamp: 1:20):
"I want to tell you a story about a girl from the bayou who cooked up a good pot of gumbo. Sprinkle in a little Pistol Pete, Doctor J, Teresa Edwards, Allen Iverson and many more. They all helped me develop a game that you all adored."
Seimone Augustus played a monumental role in making LSU basketball a national powerhouse. As one of the most important recruits in program history, the Baton Rogue, Louisiana, native led the Tigers to the Elite Eight in her freshman year. In the remaining three years, she spearheaded LSU to its first three Final Four appearances (2004-06).