Los Angeles - As a youngster, he never thought about it, but Michael Jordan soared into the Hall of Fame like one of his patented slam dunks.

Arguably the greatest to ever play the game, Jordan was elected Monday to the class of 2009.

"Growing up, I would never have envisioned myself at any point in time, being in any Hall of Fame," Jordan said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college and whatever happened after that happened."

However, with his impeccable credentials, it was a no-brainer that the former University of North Carolina star would make the cut the first year he was eligible.

"It's an honour to be here and to be a part if it," he said. "My career speaks for itself, you guys recognize that, and all the fans and my competitors I played against. It's truly a joy to play basketball."

"Air Jordan" was joined by NBA greats David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach Vivian Stringer.

The class will be inducted on the weekend of September 10-12 into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

With his dazzling dunks and last-second game-winning shots, Jordan was the most recognizable figure in the sporting world during his playing days.

The five-time league MVP led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the dominating decade of the 1990s, during a storied 15-year career, twice interrupted by retirements before finishing with the Washington Wizards in 2003.

On the court, Jordan was a fierce competitor. His 32,292 points is third best in league history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. And his 30.12-point career scoring average is the best of all-time.

Off the court, Jordan was perhaps bigger as the face of successful Nike ads that helped popularize basketball globally.

Robinson, nicknamed the Admiral after starring for Navy, made an immediate impact on the league, while carrying the San Antonio Spurs to a pair of NBA Championships during his 14-year career.

The 7-foot-1 centre won a scoring title, was a 10-time all-star selection, and earned MVP and rookie of the year honours. He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

"This is an unbelievable honour," Robinson said. "You don't grow up thinking you're going to be in the Hall of Fame. For people to recognize your contribution to the game, and for my son to be here and see his dad really did play basketball, that means a lot."

Stockton spent his entire career with the Utah Jazz and joins Jordan and Robinson on the list of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

Though he never won an NBA championship, the feisty 10-time all- star guard finished with 19,711 points and is the all-time leader in steals (3,265) and assists (15,806).

"It's pretty intimidating, sitting up here with these guys, and you see the people who have had a say in our lives, family and friends, teammates and coaches," Stockton said. "You also see the people who haven't been fortunate to get the opportunity like this, and you're kind of overwhelmed by the honour.

"But I'm not really sure it strikes home until you stand here."

Sloan of the Utah Jazz is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. A two-time all-star as a player, he is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with the same team, and twice guided the Jazz to Finals appearances.

Stringer has led three different teams to the collegiate Final Four in her 38-year career. Her 825-280 record is the third most wins in NCAA Division I history behind Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt. (dpa)