Basketball Hall of Fame Announces 21 Finalists for 2026 Class

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced 21 finalists on Wednesday for its Class of 2026, featuring a mix of NBA and WNBA stars, prominent coaches, a referee, and a landmark Olympic team. Among the nominees are Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, retired forwards Blake Griffin and Amar'e Stoudemire, three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker, and members of the 1996 United States women's national basketball team.

The finalists represent diverse contributions to the sport across decades. Players nominated include Griffin, who averaged 21.4 points and 9.0 rebounds over 765 NBA games, highlighted by his role in the Los Angeles Clippers' Lob City era and a third-place MVP finish in the 2013-14 season. Stoudemire, a six-time All-Star and 2002-03 Rookie of the Year, posted career averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 846 games, powering the Phoenix Suns alongside Steve Nash. On the women's side, Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP, became the first player in league history to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2008, finishing her 16-year career ranked among the top 10 in points and third in rebounds. Elena Delle Donne, the only WNBA player to win MVP with two...