Wayne Embry Inducted Into NCAS Hall of Fame

As the first African-American team president and general manager in the history of the National Basketball Association, 77-year-old Wayne Embry's legacy is forever etched in stone.

Being inducted into the NCAS Hall of Fame is just another feather in the cap of a man whose accomplishments as both a player and executive reach levels that very few could hope to achieve.

The National Consortium for Academics and Sports is designed to "create a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change." Some other noteworthy inductees into its HOF include Jackie Robinson, Dean Smith, Muhammed Ali and Julius "Dr. J" Erving.

Dr. Richard Lapchick, NCAS Director and chair of the DeVos Sports Business Management program at University of Central Florida, welcomes Embry into the HOF with open arms:

Throughout the years I have watched Wayne's career and have had an incredible amount of respect for everything he has accomplished as a player and executive. He has certainly played a significant role in society for positive social change. I am proud that he will be a part of the NCAS Hall of Fame. I am lucky to be able to call him a friend.

Embry is no stranger to HOFs. He's been a trustee of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame since 1974 and was inducted as a contributor to the sport in 1999. The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame have also honoured Embry.

His playing career spanned from 1958 to 1969 with the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Embry played for five NBA All-Star teams (1961-65) and won an NBA Championship with the Celtics in 1968.

Upon his retirement, Embry became an assistant manager for the Bucks and then their full-fledged general manager in 1972. He won two NBA Executive of the Year awards while running the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1992 and 1998.

The Raptors hired Embry in 2004 to be an advisor to former general manager Rob Babcock, although his authority eventually surpassed that of Babcock's due to a lack of confidence in moves that were being made at the time. Embry then had a two-month stint at general manager once Babcock was sent packing.

During that short span, Embry laid the groundwork for his successor Bryan Colangelo by trading away both Aaron Williams and Jalen Rose to clear salary cap space.

The NBA has been a home to Embry for over 50 years. While his tenure with the Raptors pales in comparison to what he's achieved elsewhere, the organization is surely happy to have had someone with his wisdom be able to offer it up.