The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame introduced its Class of 2026 on Saturday night, April 4, at the NCAA men’s Final Four in Indianapolis.
The enshrinement festivities are scheduled for Aug. 14-15 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Celebration weekend will open Aug. 14 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, with the tipoff celebration and awards gala, including jacket and ring presentations.
Headliners
Amar’e Stoudemire, a six-time NBA All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year, leads the player selections. Longtime NBA coaches Mike D’Antoni and Doc Rivers join him in the class, along with Gonzaga men’s coach Mark Few and 39-season NBA referee Joey Crawford.
Women’s honorees
Three WNBA standouts—Candace Parker, Chamique Holdsclaw and Elena Delle Donne—were elected, as was the gold-medal-winning 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic team.
Award recipients
The Curt Gowdy Media Awards will go to Mike Fratello, Chris Carrino, Seth Davis and Ma Guoli. NBA vice president Leah Wilcox will receive the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Complete Class of 2026
North American Committee
- Joey Crawford – NBA referee, 2,561 regular-season and 50 Finals games
- Mark Few – Gonzaga head coach since 1999; NCAA title-game trips in 2017, 2021
- Kevin Johnson – Three-time All-Star guard; 1989 Most Improved Player
- Gary McKnight – Mater Dei High School coach; more than 1,300 wins
- Dick Motta – 1978 NBA-title coach; 1971 Coach of the Year
- Doc Rivers – Over 1,190 NBA coaching wins; 2008 champion with Celtics
- Kelvin Sampson – College coach with Final Fours at Oklahoma and Houston
- Amar’e Stoudemire – Six-time NBA All-Star forward/center
- Jerry Welsh – 1981 NCAA Division III champion coach at SUNY Potsdam
- Buck Williams – Three-time NBA All-Star; third all-time in offensive rebounds
Women’s Committee
- 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team – Olympic gold in Atlanta, the first of eight straight
- Elena Delle Donne – Two-time WNBA MVP; 2019 champion with Mystics
- Chamique Holdsclaw – Six-time All-Star; 1999 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Candace Parker – Three-time WNBA champion; only player to win ROY and MVP in same season
Veterans Committee
- Marques Johnson – Five-time NBA All-Star; 1977 Wooden Award winner
Women’s Veterans Committee
- Molly Bolin-Kazmer – First signee in Women’s Professional Basketball League; co-MVP in 1980
International Committee
- Dusan Ivkovic – Two-time EuroLeague champion; silver medal coach at 1988 Olympics
Contributors Committee
- Mike D’Antoni – Two-time NBA Coach of the Year; pioneer of up-tempo “Seven Seconds or Less” offense
- Tal Brody – Led Maccabi Tel Aviv to 1977 European Champions Cup triumph
Next steps
Inductees will receive their Hall of Fame jackets and rings on Aug. 14 in Connecticut before entering the Hall in Springfield the following evening.
Source: ESPN
