2025 Hall of Fame Finalists Revealed

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its 17 finalists for the Class of 2025, and it’s an impressive list.

North American Committee Finalists:
– 2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team: This team restored USA Basketball to global prominence, capturing gold in Beijing with a perfect 8-0 record.
– Carmelo Anthony: A 10-time NBA All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers of his generation.
– Danny Crawford: A respected NBA referee with 32 years of experience, officiating over 2,000 regular season games.
– Billy Donovan: A two-time NCAA national champion coach with a successful tenure at the University of Florida.
– Mark Few: One of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, leading Gonzaga to two NCAA national championship game appearances.
– Dwight Howard: A dominant force on both ends of the court, earning eight All-Star selections and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
– Marques Johnson: A five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, known for pioneering the “point forward” role.
– Jerry Welsh: A successful college coach with a 494-141 record over 22 seasons.
– Buck Williams: A three-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection.¹

Women’s Committee Finalists:
– Jennifer Azzi: The 1990 Naismith College Player of the Year, leading Stanford to the NCAA national championship.
– Sue Bird: A four-time WNBA champion and 13-time All-Star, widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history.
– Sylvia Fowles: A four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion, earning Finals MVP honors in both title runs.
– Maya Moore: A four-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, leading the Minnesota Lynx to multiple titles.

Other Finalists:
– Molly Bolin: A pioneering figure in women’s professional basketball, leading the Iowa Cornets to back-to-back WBL championship appearances.
– Dušan Ivković: A renowned international coach, winning two EuroLeague championships and leading the Yugoslavia national team to an Olympic silver medal.
– Micky Arison: The owner of the Miami Heat, leading the franchise to three NBA championships.
– Tal Brody: A basketball ambassador and former player, leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to the 1977 FIBA European Champions Cup.