Who’s Next for the Hall? ESPN Lists 50 Current NBA Players With the Best Shot at Springfield
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NEW YORK — With another Hall of Fame ceremony set for this weekend, ESPN’s Zach Kram on Sept. 5, 2025 released a tiered forecast of the 50 active NBA players most likely to join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after their careers end. The breakdown follows historical trends showing that, between 1955 and 2005, an average of 34 players active in any given season eventually earned enshrinement.
Group 1: NBA 75th Anniversary Team Locks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, James Harden, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard*, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook** headline the list. Each made the league’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, effectively guaranteeing first-ballot induction.
*Lillard is rehabbing a torn Achilles and may miss 2025-26.
**Westbrook is currently unsigned but expected to land on a roster.
Group 2: Non-Top-75 Locks
This tier features Nikola Jokic, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Paul George, Jimmy Butler III, Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Rudy Gobert. Jokic’s three MVPs, Irving’s nine All-Star trips and Gobert’s four Defensive Player of the Year awards underpin their candidacies, while Butler gains credit for leading two Finals teams.
Group 3: Young Stars on a Fast Track
Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum*, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama are viewed as near-certain future inductees if their early trajectories continue. Doncic owns five first-team All-NBA nods, Tatum has four, Edwards ranks fifth all-time in points through age 23, and Wembanyama’s skill set makes him an early favorite despite just 117 career games.
*Tatum is also recovering from an Achilles injury and could sit out 2025-26.
Group 4: Veterans on the Bubble
DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love, Al Horford* and Karl-Anthony Towns sit at the crossroads. DeRozan’s 25,292 career points approach automatic territory, while Lowry, Holiday and Love lean on championship résumés. Horford’s sustained contributions plus two NCAA titles bolster his case, and Towns may need several strong seasons—and postseason success—to move from fringe to lock.
*Horford is a free agent but expected to play in 2025-26.
Group 5: 29-Year-Olds on the Edge
Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Domantas Sabonis and Jaylen Brown all turn 29 by late October. Brunson’s recent leap, Mitchell’s six straight All-Star selections, Booker’s 16,452 career points, Sabonis’ triple-double pace and Brown’s Finals MVP award give each a plausible route to Springfield if their primes stay productive.
Group 6: Check Back in a Few Years
The final category highlights rising talents who have flashed Hall-level upside but remain early in their development: Tyrese Haliburton*, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Trae Young, LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, Alperen Sengun, Tyrese Maxey, Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson and projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
*Haliburton is also sidelined by an Achilles tear.
Kram notes that the typical NBA season features roughly one future Hall of Famer per team, yet franchises such as the Dallas Mavericks could field multiple inductees simultaneously. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City’s young trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren is positioned to chase dynasty status together.
While not every player on the 50-name list will secure a plaque in Springfield, ESPN’s wide-ranging selection identifies the athletes most likely to headline induction weekends throughout the 2030s and 2040s.
Source: ESPN
