Ex-Butler coach Brad Stevens gets emotional about path to Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

There's little doubt Brad Stevens has earned a place in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

The man who led Butler to two consecutive national championship games was inducted Thursday. But there is plenty more that he accomplished: earning the (since broken) Zionsville High School scoring record, playing for DePauw University and, after his Butler days, coaching and becoming an executive for the NBA's Boston Celtics.

"Everywhere I go in Indiana, from walking into the Hall of Fame in New Castle; to our first date, Tracy, at the Wigwam in Anderson; to watching Zach (Hahn) at Chrysler Fieldhouse (in New Castle); to watching Matt (Howard) in the Spartan Bowl (in Connersville); to watching Indiana games as a kid in Assembly Hall; to being at the IU-Purdue game a few weeks ago as a scout for the Boston Celtics in Mackey Arena; and, obviously, to get the keys to Hinkle Fieldhouse, it's pretty special," Stevens said.

"I'm thankful to be here, and I'm thankful to have grown up in a place where it matters this much."

Bulldogs coverage:Keep up with Butler basketball

Stevens, a 1995 Zionsville graduate, set school records for points (1,508), steals (157) and 3-pointers made (138) and averaged 26.8 points per game as a senior. He went on to play at DePauw, where he was a three-time academic All-American. Stevens worked at Eli Lilly for one year before joining Thad Matta’s staff at Butler. He was an assistant at Butler until 2007 before becoming the head coach. He led Butler to the national championship games in 2010 and '11 before he was hired to lead the Boston Celtics in 2014. Stevens coached the Celtics until 2021, when he moved into the front office.

Also inducted Thursday: James Blackmon Sr., Marion; Richard Butt, Huntington; Henry Chapman, Fort Wayne North; John DeVoe, Park School; Henry Ebershoff, Lafayette Central Catholic; Brian Evans, Terre Haute South; Oscar Evans, Shortridge; Darrin Fitzgerald, Indianapolis Washington; Dennis Goins, Rushville; Ken Gunning, Shelbyville; Jack Hogan, Broad Ripple; Kirk Manns, North Judson; Eric Montross, Lawrence North; Drake Morris, East Chicago Washington; Jim Oler, Economy; Phil Snodgress, Kennard; Mike Lightfoot, LaVille.