As a part of the NBA All-Star festivities, the finalists for the NBA Hall of Fame have been revealed.
While being enshrined more than once in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is nothing unusual; getting into the NBA Hall of Fame more than once is a rare event but basketball stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard may get the chance.
Among the nominees is the 2008 gold medal winning “Redeem Team” at the Beijing Summer Olympic team. Anthony and Howard are also listed among the individual nominees.
NBA Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo spoke on the “Redeem Team” nomination saying, “I think any time you have an association with a group of people that come together for a common cause and good, you see a lot of good things happen. I’ve said some things about that experience … ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ being played, the flag being raised, it was a moment of total completion.”
WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Molly Bolin, and Jennifer Azzi are also among the nominees. The International Committee named FIBA Hall of Famer and Serbian star Dusan Ivkovic to the nominees list.
Bird, Moore, Fowles, and Azzi have all been a part of Olympic Gold Medal winning teams.
Colangelo noted, “you look at the accomplishments for each of them in terms of championships, in terms of winning gold, in terms of being the players they were for as long as they were, it’s a real tribute to the game of basketball and women’s basketball in particular.”
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, Gonzaga coach Mark Few, retired NBA referee Danny Crawford, Marques Johnson, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, longtime Maccabi Tel Aviv star Tal Brody, Buck Williams, and Potsdam coach Jerry Welsh round out the list of nominees.
Speaking on Welsh, former player Steve Babiarz said, “I tell everybody he’s not really a coach. He’s everybody’s mentor, a second father. Coaching was secondary. He brought student-athletes there to be successful and his personality, his character, the way he’s about family, I mean, I played for him 40 years ago and I talk to him every single month since I left Potsdam. He’s my hero.”
The Honors Committee will determine the newest class of inductees. Finalists must earn 18 of the 24 available votes for induction. The 2025 members will be announced as a part of the NCAA Men’s Final Four competition on April 5 with the induction ceremony in September.
NBA Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo spoke on being named a Hall of Fame finalist saying, “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. 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.”
The NBA Hall of Fame also named the Media and Lifetime Achievement Awards…
Detroit Pistons play-by-play announcer George Blaha
CBS analyst Clark Kellogg
women’s basketball writer Michelle Smith
NBA journalist Adrian Wojnarowski
Boston Celtics vice president of media and alumni relations Jeff Twiss received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award