– The 2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team, Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird and
Maya Moore Among First-Time Finalists –
SAN FRANCISCO – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today at NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 the selection of 17 Finalists from the following committees: North American, Women’s, Men’s Veterans, Women’s Veterans, International, and Contributors.
The Finalists will then be put forward to the Honors Committee to be considered for election as members of the Class of 2025. The new class will be announced in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, at the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
North American Committee Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Women’s Committee Finalists:
Jennifer Azzi [Player]
Sue Bird [Player]
Sylvia Fowles [Player]
Maya Moore [Player]
Women’s Veteran Committee Finalist:
International Committee Finalist:
Contributors Committee Finalists:
“Selection as a Finalist for the Class of 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is a remarkable achievement, signifying a career of excellence and lasting influence on the game,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “This recognition goes beyond statistics and accolades—it honors those who have defined eras, inspired generations, and elevated basketball through their talent, leadership, and dedication. Whether as players, coaches, teams, or contributors, each Finalist has left an indelible mark on the sport, and we are proud to celebrate their extraordinary impact.”
Enshrinement Weekend will begin at the Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 5, with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, followed by the Enshrinement Ceremony the next day at Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall.
VIP packages for the 2025 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend are now available. Single-event tickets will go on sale on April 5, following the 2025 Class Announcement. For more information, visithoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2025/.
For the latest news and updates, follow @hoophall on X and Instagram.
North American Committee Finalists:
2008 US OLYMPIC MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM [Team] – The 2008 United States men’s Olympic basketball team restored USA Basketball to global prominence under the leadership of Managing Director Jerry Colangelo, who rebuilt the program by securing multi-year commitments from NBA players. Capturing gold in Beijing with a perfect 8-0 record and average victory margin of 27.9 points, the squad featured co-captains Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade, alongside LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh under Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The team, which earned its ‘Redeem Team’ moniker after USA’s bronze medal finish in 2004, defeated Spain 118-107 in the gold medal game.
CARMELO ANTHONY [Player] – A 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony was one of the most prolific scorers of his generation during his 19-year NBA career (2003-22). Selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003 after leading Syracuse to its first NCAA national championship in basketball as a freshman and earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors, Anthony averaged 22.5 points per game in his career and ranks 10th all-time in NBA scoring with 28,289 points. He earned All-NBA honors six times and won three Olympic gold medals (2008, ’12, ’16) as a key member of Team USA. Anthony led the NBA in scoring in 2012-13 (28.7). Anthony was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
DANNY CRAWFORD [Referee] – One of the NBA’s most respected officials over his 32-year career (1985-2017), Crawford officiated over 2,000 regular season games, 300 playoff games, and 30 NBA Finals contests. He was selected to work the NBA Finals in 23 consecutive seasons, including his final game—Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals. Crawford worked many of the league’s most significant games, including the 1992 Dream Team’s first Olympic contest and multiple NBA All-Star Games. He served as a referee in the Missouri Valley Conference prior to making his NBA debut.
BILLY DONOVAN [Coach] – Donovan is a two-time NCAA national champion coach who achieved unparalleled success during his tenure at the University of Florida (1996-2015). He guided the Gators to consecutive national titles in 2006 and ‘07 and four Final Four appearances while recording over 500 total victories at Florida and Marshall (1994-96). After his collegiate success, Donovan transitioned to the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and Chicago Bulls (2020-present) to over 400 wins. The former Providence College point guard under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
MARK FEW [Coach] – One of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, Few has led Gonzaga to two NCAA national championship game appearances (2017, ’21) and 25 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths through 2024. He is the winningest active coach by percentage and has won at least 20 games in all 25 seasons with the Bulldogs. Few, who is the second fastest to 700 wins in NCAA Division I history, was named the Naismith Coach of the Year twice (2017, ‘21) and has won at least a share of 22 WCC regular-season titles and 19 WCC tournament championships. He has coached 22 All-Americans at Gonzaga and captured a gold medal as an assistant coach in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
DWIGHT HOWARD [Player] – A dominant force on both ends of the court, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11), and earned eight All-NBA selections during his 18-year career. Known as “Superman,” he led the NBA in rebounding five times and blocks twice, ranking 10th all-time in NBA history in rebounds (14,627) and 13th in blocks (2,228). Howard led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and later won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft out of high school.
MARQUES JOHNSON [Player] – A five-time NBA All-Star (1979-81, ’83, ’86) and three-time All-NBA selection, including first-team accolades in 1978-79, Johnson averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds during his 11-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks (1977-84), Los Angeles Clippers (1984-87), and Golden State Warriors (1989-90). Selected third overall in the 1977 NBA Draft, Johnson played a key role in leading UCLA to the 1975 NCAA national championship under Hall of Fame coach John Wooden. Credited with pioneering the “point forward” role, Johnson helped the Bruins to a 98-10 record during his collegiate career and won the inaugural John Wooden Award in 1977. The Bucks retired his No. 8 jersey in 2019.
JERRY WELSH [Coach] – Welsh compiled a 494-141 record over 22 seasons as a head coach at SUNY Potsdam (1968-91), where he guided the Bears to the 1981 NCAA Division III national championship and three Final Four appearances (1979, ‘81, ‘86). Named the NABC Division III Coach of the Year twice (1981, ‘86), Welsh built a dominant program at Potsdam. His teams either won or shared the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) regular-season title in each of his final 15 seasons. From 1985 to 1987, SUNY Potsdam set a Division III record with 60 consecutive victories and went a dominant 254-13 at home. Welsh then went on to coach at Iona University for four seasons.
BUCK WILLIAMS [Player] – A three-time NBA All-Star (1982-83, ’86), Williams ranks third in NBA history in offensive rebounds (4,526) and 16th in total rebounds (13,017). He earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1982. The third overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft following his All-American career at Maryland, Williams led the NBA in offensive rebounds in 1983-84 (355) and played in all 82 games in a season four times. Williams spent the first eight seasons of his 17-year career with the New Jersey Nets (1981-89) before being traded to Portland, where he helped lead the Trail Blazers to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and ‘92. The Nets retired his #52 in 1999.
Women’s Committee Finalists:
JENNIFER AZZI[Player] – The 1990 Naismith College Player of the Year and Wade Trophy recipient, Azzi led Stanford to the 1990 NCAA national championship and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She also excelled on the international stage, winning a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1990 and ’98 FIBA World Championships and playing four seasons abroad. Following her professional career overseas, Azzi co-founded the short-lived American Basketball League (ABL) before embarking on a five-year stint in the WNBA (1999-2003). In 2021, Azzi was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
SUE BIRD [Player] – Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, Bird is a four-time WNBA champion (2004, ’10, ’18, ’20) who played 21 seasons with the Seattle Storm (2002-22). A record 13-time All-Star, Bird was recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in wins (333), games played (580), assists (3,234), and minutes (18,079) and earned All-WNBA First-Team accolades on five occasions. Internationally, Bird won five Olympic gold medals and is a five-time FIBA World Cup medalist with Team USA. At UConn, Bird led the Huskies to two NCAA titles (2000, ‘02), won the Naismith Player of the Year award in 2002, and was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.
SYLVIA FOWLES [Player] – A four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx (2015, ‘17), Fowles earned Finals MVP honors in both title runs. She retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder (4,006) and was honored as part of the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The 2017 WNBA MVP was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year (2011, ‘13, ‘16, ‘21) and finished her 15-year career averaging 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. Fowles was selected second overall in the 2008 draft after a stellar career at LSU, where she led the Tigers to four consecutive Final Four appearances. Fowles, who has her No. 34 retired by LSU and the Lynx.
MAYA MOORE [Player] – Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA championships (2011, ‘13, ‘15, ‘17) during her seven-season career (2011-18) before stepping away from basketball to focus on criminal justice reform. A six-time All-Star, she also earned WNBA MVP honors in 2014, Finals MVP in 2013, and was named to the All-WNBA First Team five times. Moore was also recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Moore starred at UConn, winning a pair of Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year honors (2009, ‘11), and led the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated seasons (2008-09, 2009-10) and two NCAA national championships. Internationally, she captured two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Cup golds (2014, ‘18).
Women’s Veteran Committee Finalists:
MOLLY BOLIN [Player] – A pioneering figure in women’s professional basketball, Bolin was the first player signed in Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) history and became known as “Machine Gun” Molly for her prolific scoring ability. She led the Iowa Cornets to back-to-back WBL championship appearances (1979, 1980), set a single-game scoring record with 55 points on March 2, 1980, and earned the league’s co-MVP honors with Hall of Famer Anne Myers (Drysdale) in 1980. Bolin averaged 32.8 points in 1980-81, the highest professional scoring average ever by a woman at that time. She was inducted into the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Grand View College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
International Committee Finalist:
DUŠAN IVKOVIĆ [Coach] – A former Serbian professional basketball player, Ivković’s coaching career spanned six decades and earned a number of prestigious honors, including being named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008, a EuroLeague Basketball Legend in 2017, and being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. He won two EuroLeague championships (1997, 2012) and led the Yugoslavia national team to an Olympic silver medal in 1988 and to a FIBA World Championship title in 1990. Ivković coached legendary European clubs including Partizan Belgrade, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid, winning multiple European championships, and coached a number of players who became NBA stars, including Dražen Petrović, Vlade Divac, and Predrag Stojaković.
Contributor Committee Finalists:
MICKY ARISON – Since acquiring the Miami Heat in 1995, Arison has led the franchise to three NBA championships (2006, ’12, ’13) and seven Eastern Conference titles. Under his ownership, the Heat have featured legendary players like Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Dwyane Wade, and superstars LeBron James and Jimmy Butler. With Arison as owner, Pat Riley as team president, and Erik Spoelstra as head coach, the organization has become renowned for its culture of stability and success. Arison’s influence extends beyond the court through his philanthropic work and dedication to the Miami community.
TAL BRODY – A basketball ambassador across the globe for more than 50 years, Brody led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the 1977 FIBA European Champions Cup, marking the first time an Israeli team had won Europe’s top club competition. A University of Illinois All-American in 1965, he was selected 12th overall in that year’s NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets but opted to play in Israel. There, he made history as the country’s first athlete to receive the Israel Prize, its highest civilian honor, in 1979. His No. 6 jersey was retired by Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he won 10 Israeli League titles and six State Cups. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, the U.S. Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophall #25HoopClass.
