Basketball Hall of Fame finalists include Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Doc Rivers

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its finalists for induction this summer.

The finalists are made up of the North American, women’s, men’s, women’s veteran, international and contributor categories. This year’s induction class will be announced on Saturday, April 4 at 12 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN 2. The announcement will coincide with Final Four weekend.

“This year’s group of finalists represents the full breadth of basketball’s impact, from the professional and collegiate ranks to high school, international play, officiating and innovation,” said Jerry Colangelo, president of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Their accomplishments span championships, historic milestones and a lasting influence on how the game is played, taught and experienced around the world. Each finalist has made notable contributions to the growth and excellence of basketball, and their collective legacy is a testament to the power of this sport.”

This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 15 at historic Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists

North American Committee Finalists

• Joey Crawford [referee]: A 39-year NBA referee veteran, Crawford has officiated a record 374 playoff games and 50 NBA Finals games. He worked on every NBA Finals series from 1986 to 2015.

• Score a few [coach]: A two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, Few led Gonzaga to two NCAA championship game appearances and 25 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. He also served as an assistant coach for the 2024 United States men’s Olympic basketball team that won a gold medal.

• Blake Griffin [player]: A six-time All-Star, Griffin was a key part of the Los Angeles Clippers’ “Lob City” era that also included Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. A thunderous dunker, Griffin won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2011, the year he was also named NBA Rookie of the Year.

• Kevin Johnson [player]: Johnson spent his entire 12-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns and was an important member of their 1993 Western Conference championship team. A complete point guard, in the 1990-91 season, Johnson was the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 assists, a .500 hitting percentage and two steals per game.

• Gary McKnight [coach]: Since becoming the coach at Mater Dei High School in 1982, McKnight has led the team to more than 13,000 wins, the second most all-time among high school coaches. His list of individual honors includes the Naismith Boys’ High School Coach of the Year award in 2014.

• Dick Motta [coach]: Motta won championships in high school, college and professionally. He led the Washington Bullets to an NBA title in 1978 and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1971. Motta’s other NBA accolades include ninth most wins and 14th most regular season games coached.

• Doc Rivers [coach]: Rivers, who currently coaches the Milwaukee Bucks, helped the Boston Celtics win an NBA title in 2008 and an Eastern Conference title in 2010. As coach of the Toronto Raptors, he won NBA Coach of the Year in 2000 while coaching future Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. He also had a successful career with Griffin in Los Angeles and previously had a 13-year NBA career of his own.

• Kelvin Sampson [coach]: A two-time AP Coach of the Year, Sampson guided two schools to the Final Four (Oklahoma once and Houston twice). Sampson recently became the 17th men’s basketball coach (and fourth active) to reach 800 career wins.

• Amar’e Stoudemire [player]: A versatile and accomplished scorer, Stoudemire was a five-time All-NBA selection averaging 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds during his first eight seasons as a member of the Suns. He and Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash led the Suns to three Western Conference Finals appearances.

• Jerry Welsh [coach]: One of the most successful Division III men’s basketball coaches in history, Welsh led SUNY Potsdam to a national title in 1981. Over a three-year span (1985-87), SUNY Potsdam set a Division III record with 60 consecutive victories, including a staggering 254-13 record at home.

• Buck Williams [player]: An elite rebounder, Williams ranks third in NBA history in offensive rebounds (4,526) and 16th in total rebounds (13,017). Part of four NBA defensive teams, Williams was a key member of two Portland Trail Blazer teams that reached the NBA Finals.

Women’s Committee Finalists

• 1996 United States Women’s National Team: Coached by Tara VanDerveer, the 1996 team won the gold medal by winning each of its eight games by an average margin of victory of more than 30 points. The team’s headliners included future Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo and Katrina McClain.

• Jennifer Azzi [player]: A 2021 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Azzi had a forgettable season in 1990 while at Stanford. That season, she won Naismith College Player of the Year and NCAA Tournament MVP while leading Stanford to a national title. She was also a member of the 1996 Olympic team.

• Elena Delle Given [player]: A hugely accomplished WNBA player, Delle Donne’s list of accolades included being a two-time league MVP and a member of the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team. She led the Washington Mystics to their first WNBA title in 2019.

• Chamic Claw [player]: Holdsclaw had a successful career in Tennessee and the WNBA. After leading Tennessee to three straight national titles, Holdsclaw was a six-time All-Star during her 11-year WNBA career. She won a gold medal with the women’s Olympic team in 2000.

• Candace Parker [player]: Like Holdsclaw, Parker had a memorable run at Tennessee before finding even more success in the WNBA. She won two national titles at Tennessee before winning three WNBA titles and two league MVP awards. Parker also won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Women’s Veterans Committee Finalist

• Molly Bolin-Kazmer [player]: Known as “Machine Gun Molly” for her prolific scoring ability, Bolin-Kazmer averaged 32.8 points in 1980-81, which was the highest professional scoring average ever by a woman. She led the Iowa Cornets to consecutive WBL championship appearances (1979, 1980) and set a single-game scoring record with 55 points on March 2, 1980.

Finalist of the International Committee

• Dušan Ivković [coach]: A former Serbian player, Ivković won two EuroLeague championships (1997, 2012) and led the Yugoslavia national team to an Olympic silver medal in 1988 and a FIBA ​​World Championship title in 1990. He coached several future NBA stars, including Dražen Petrović, Vlade Divac and Predrag Stojaković.

Contributor Committee Finalists

• Tal Brody: Brody chose to play in Israel despite being the 12th overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft. During his playing career overseas, Brody won 10 Israeli League titles and six State Cups. In 1979, he became the country’s first athlete to receive the Israel Prize, its highest civilian honor.

• Mike D’Antoni: One of the most innovative coaches in NBA history, D’Antoni’s philosophy of pace, space and rhythm has changed the way offense is played at virtually every level of basketball. A two-time NBA Coach of the Year, D’Antoni won a gold medal in 2012 as an assistant coach.

Veterans Committee Finalists

• Johnson Brands: Known for pioneering the “point forward” role, Johnson helped UCLA win a national title in 1975 while playing for legendary coach John Wooden. He was a five-time NBA All-Star averaging 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during his 11-year career.