Basketball Legends Parker, Delle Donne Headline Naismith Hall of Fame Finalists for 2026
A distinguished group of basketball luminaries, including WNBA icons Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, are among the finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, announced on Wednesday. The announcement signals a potential influx of talent representing multiple eras and facets of the game.
WNBA Powerhouses Poised for Enshrinement
Candace Parker stands as a singular force in women’s basketball history. She is the only player to secure championships with three different WNBA franchises – the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces. Recognized as one of the game’s first truly positionless players, Parker excelled at every level, highlighted by a dunk contest victory at the McDonald’s All American Game, two national championships at the University of Tennessee, two Olympic gold medals, and two WNBA MVP awards. Remarkably, she remains the sole player in WNBA history to achieve both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same season, accomplishing this feat in 2008.
Elena Delle Donne, a two-time league MVP (2015 and 2019), is also a strong contender for induction. She distinguished herself as the first WNBA player to achieve the impressive shooting benchmark of 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. Delle Donne’s leadership guided the Washington Mystics to their inaugural championship in 2019, solidifying her legacy as one of the purest shooters the game has ever witnessed.
“Lob City” Era and Coaching Greats Recognized
The impact of the LA Clippers’ “Lob City” era is also represented among the finalists. Blake Griffin, a six-time All-Star, revitalized the franchise with his electrifying, high-flying style, most memorably demonstrated by his winning dunk over a Kia in the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest. Over his 14-season career, Griffin evolved into a well-rounded player, accumulating over 14,000 points and 3,000 assists.
Alongside Griffin, Doc Rivers, the coach of many of those dynamic “Lob City” teams, has been selected as a finalist. Rivers boasts an impressive coaching record, with 1,114 (and counting) career wins, ranking eighth all-time. He led the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008 and currently serves as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA Standouts and International Influence
A’mare Stoudemire is again under consideration for induction. The six-time All-Star averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds across 846 career games spanning 14 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat. He formed a potent pick-and-roll partnership with Steve Nash during his eight seasons in Phoenix, earning an All-NBA first-team selection in 2006-07. Stoudemire was also named the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year, having entered the league directly from high school.
Other player finalists include Kevin Johnson, Buck Williams, and Marques Johnson. The list also includes influential figures like official Joey Crawford, and Tal Brody, who significantly shaped the landscape of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball. Mike D’Antoni is nominated in the contributor category.
Coaching and Team Achievements Honored
Beyond Rivers, several other coaches are in the running for enshrinement. Mark Few of Gonzaga, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, and Jerry Welsh, who led Potsdam in upstate New York to NCAA Division III titles in 1981 and 1986, are among those recognized. Gary McKnight and Dick Motta also join the coaching finalists.
The 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. Women’s National Team will also be considered for induction, recognizing their collective achievement. Individual members of that team, Jennifer Azzi and Chamique Holdsclaw, are also finalists. Molly Bolin-Kazmerm, the first player signed by the Women’s Professional Basketball League, is a returning finalist nominated by the women’s veterans committee.
The final Class of 2026 will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four weekend in April, with the formal enshrinement ceremonies scheduled for August 2026 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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