SPRINGFIELD, MASS. ? They were fierce rivals on the court, beginning in their college days and continuing throughout their stellar NBA careers. Now, Larry Bird will present Earvin “Magic” Johnson for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame at the Sept. 28 induction.

The ceremony will kick off the opening of the new multimillion-dollar facility in Springfield.

According to Hall of Fame tradition, each new enshrinee is presented by a Hall of Famer of his choice. Bird was inducted in 1998.

“I am honored to be presenting a person I have admired and looked up to during my whole career,” Bird said.

Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown chose Dean Smith, his college coach at North Carolina, to present him for induction. North Carolina State women’s coach Kay Yow selected Anne Donovan, the center on the U.S. team she coached to a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics. And Willis Reed, who brought the late Drazen Petrovic to the Nets, was chosen to present the international star.