Ahead of this weekend’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield, where first-ballot selections Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard will be enshrined, two national writers have turned their attention to the next wave of candidates.
In separate pieces published on September 6, 2025, Zach Kram of ESPN and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic sorted current NBA players into tiers based on their likelihood of reaching the Hall. While their criteria vary, both journalists agree on a long list of “no-doubt” selections:
• Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Warriors guard Stephen Curry
• Mavericks big man Anthony Davis
• Rockets forward Kevin Durant
• Clippers guards James Harden and Chris Paul
• Lakers forward LeBron James
• Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard
• Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard
• Warriors forwards Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green
• Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
• Mavericks wing Klay Thompson
• Sixers center Joel Embiid
• Free-agent guard Russell Westbrook
The two writers diverge on several other prominent names. Vorkunov places Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving in the automatic category, while Kram assigns that status to Sixers forward Paul George, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
Both pieces invite fans to weigh in on which active players have already secured their Hall credentials, who still has work to do and who might be overrated in the discussion.
Source: Hoops Rumors
