Carlos Boozer Jr. — a 1999 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School and a star player in high school, at Duke University and in the pros — was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team on Sept. 6.

Boozer Jr.’s parents, Juneau residents Renee Boozer and Carlos Boozer Sr., traveled to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the induction weekend.

“It means everything to him,” said Boozer of his son. “He’s still in awe every time I talk to him.

“Yesterday, he was telling me, ‘Dad, it’s unbelievable, you know?’ He said, ‘Look at me, I’m in the Hall of Fame.’ I said, ‘Believe it’s true.’”

Boozer Sr. said his son had been to the Hall of Fame many times, but this was the first time for Boozer Sr.

“What more can a father ask for? I mean, it was great to see our son get inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Boozer Jr. was born at a military base in Aschaffenburg, West Germany. The family came to Juneau in 1988.

At Juneau-Douglas, Boozer was a two-time Parade All-American, a McDonald’s High School All-American and three-time state player of the year. Boozer Jr. won Class 4A state championships with the Crimson Bears in 1997 and 1998.

One of the full-circle moments for Carlos Sr. at the induction ceremony came when he found out he was staying at the same hotel as Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski was the head coach at Duke University from 1980 to 2022 and has the most wins in NCAA Division I men’s history.

He also coached the 2008 Olympic men’s team.

“Coach K actually came to our house in Juneau, along with just about every coach in America,” Boozer Sr. said of the time when his son was being recruited by colleges.

Krzyzewski told Boozer Jr. that he would have to come in and earn his spot, but if he was focused, he could do great things. Boozer Sr. said that message was attractive to his son.

The coach also said Duke is one of the best educational institutions in America. Krzyzewski added he wanted all his players to graduate, which Boozer Jr. did in 2020.

Krzyzewski also had gotten to know Boozer Jr.’s twin sons, Cayden Boozer and Cameron Boozer, who will play for Duke this season and are both NBA draft prospects.

Krzyzewski and Boozer Jr. won a national title in 2001 at Duke, one of five for Krzyzewski. Boozer Jr. would turn pro after his junior season in 2002 and play in the NBA until 2015.

He earned two All-Star nods and averaged 16.2 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and shot 52.1% from the floor for his career.

Boozer Jr.’s spot in the Hall of Fame came from his role in putting the United States back on top of the basketball world.

NBA players started going to the Olympics with the “Dream Team” in 1992, and the United States won gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000.

In 2004, Boozer Jr. was on the team that took the bronze medal in Athens.

Boozer Jr., LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were all part of the 2004 team and signed up to change things in 2008. The “Redeem Team” went undefeated and won their games by an average of 27.9 points.

Team USA has stayed on top since then, winning gold in London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris.

The 2008 team also included Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul and Tayshaun Prince.

“That’s a special group, and everybody doesn’t make it that far,” Boozer Sr. said. “For Carlos to do that, it’s just wonderful.”

Boozer Sr. and Renee moved to the Lower 48 to follow their son’s career, starting when he was at Duke. The couple moved back to Juneau a few years ago.

“Well, everybody’s grown up and we missed Juneau,” Boozer Sr. said. “We came back and decided to live here the rest of our lives.”

Boozer Jr. has regularly held a basketball camp in Juneau since he went to the NBA, sometimes bringing NBA players with him. He just had a camp in August.