The 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame award winners (VIDEO)

The Basketball Hall of Fame will induct a series of contributors, ex-players and coaches on Friday night; but on Thursday a litany of well-regarded award winners were given their time to bask in a career's worth of achievement. Click the jump for video from each of their acceptance speeches:

Longtime Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely was behind the microphone when the team made its 1970 debut, and famously coined the phrase "Rip City" while calling some of the finer Western Conference teams of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Though Schonely stepped away from the franchise during the more embarrassing dregs of former GM Bob Whitsitt's tenure, he returned to the team in 2003 as a sometimes-radio and television host, and all-around ambassador:

Longtime Chicago Bulls beat writer and NBA columnist Sam Smith was awarded the Curt Gowdy media award:

Dr. Richard Lapchick is the son of Boston Celtics great Joe Lapchick, and he has done unending work in the fight for racial equality. He is receiving the Manne Jackson Basketball Human Spirit award:

Grant Hill, current Los Angeles Clipper (!), received the Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit award. As he begins his employment under Donald Sterling, Hill's human spirit will face its toughest challenge yet:

Pat Williams has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a team executive in Chicago, Philadelphia and Orlando. He was the team's representative for three different draft lottery wins in Orlando. He has written over 70 books and adopted 14 children to go alongside five of his own. His Twitter account can be found here. He is basically the nicest guy in basketball: