Michigan's Fab Five Reunite This Weekend For Chris Webber Induction

 

His 15-year career included a Rookie Of The Year Award, five All-Star selections, and lifetime averages of 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. But he will probably forever be remembered as one of Michigan's famed Fab Five. 

This weekend, Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson will be reunited, as they all come together to help honor Webber at his Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction. 

The Fab Five will be reunited at the Naismith Hall of Fame this weekend, with Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson set to attend @realchriswebber’s induction.

Webber opens up about his days at Michigan with @ShamsCharania: https://t.co/AgnrJjZTpy pic.twitter.com/TQNjPGSnBT

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 9, 2021

With ballhandling big men being a staple of today's NBA, way back in the mid-90s, Webber was one of the first to ever really play that role, though he gives credit, of course, to the likes of Magic Johnson and Steve Smith, for allowing "tall ballhandlers" to come out of the post, as he told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

As for the Fab Five, Webber recalled to Charania the group's mindset more than anything. 

We would sit in the room and dream together. How we would fight over whether (Michael) Jordan was the best at the time. Conversations and sitting in the room just dreaming — that’s what I remember. 

Despite reports over the years of certain beefs between some of the Fab Five, Webber says "There’s never been a time when we weren’t communicating, all five of us.... I’m very happy that those guys are coming to the Hall of Fame to be with me."

But his association with that time will also be inextricably linked to his infamous "timeout call". Webber grabbed the ball with 11 seconds to play in the 1993 NCAA Championship Game, and, Michigan down by two points, called a timeout. Unfortunately, they didn't have any remaining. That gave North Carolina shots and the ball, as well as the championship. 

Webber says he goes on speaking tours every year to talk about the timeout, and calls it a "strengthening time" in his life. "It was something that made me a hard worker, a better individual. So no, it’s never been anything I haven’t dealt with. It was definitely hard. Definitely, definitely, definitely. But I was the No. 1 pick 60 days later."

Saturday, at the Hall of Fame, any remaining pain will be forever erased. 

Photo Credit: ALAN R. KAMUDA, Detroit Free Press