The James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is one step closer to adding a myriad of basketball legends to its esteemed roster.
On Wednesday, three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker, 1996 Team USA women’s national team player Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw were among the first names announced as finalists for the hoops room, which will soon host several of the biggest names in women’s basketball history. Former NBA All-Stars Blake Griffin and Amar’e Stoudemire will also be finalists, with Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers also closer to the Hall.
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Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP, will forever remain a preeminent influence in women’s hoops. In 2008, after a prestigious career at the University of Tennessee, she immediately broke through to the pros, becoming the first (and only) player in league history to win MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld are the only NBA players to do so. Parker, whose 16-year career ended in 2023, is ranked 10th in WNBA history in total points, third in rebounds, 11th in assists, fifth in blocks and 18th in career steals. She was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2016 after leading the Los Angeles Sparks to their fourth title in team history. In 2021, she led her hometown Chicago Sky to the franchise’s only WNBA championship.
Nicknamed the Women’s Dream Team, the 1996 U.S. women’s national team remains one of the most dominant in the history of the game. It was led by several prominent names already individually enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame: Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes, Teresa Edwards and Katrina McClain. The list also included Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton, Venus Lacy, Nikki McCray, Carla McGhee and Katy Steding. Credited with helping launch the WNBA, this team outscored opponents by an average of 28.6 points per game en route to the gold medal.
Delle Donne, whose 10-year career ended in 2023, is the only player in WNBA history to win MVP with multiple franchises (2019 with Washington Mystics, 2015 with Chicago Sky). She approaches the floor with her unique combination of shooting touch and basketball IQ, becoming the first player in WNBA history to join the prestigious 50-40-90 club (shooting at least 50 percent overall, 40 percent on 3-pointers and 90 percent on free throws for a full season). Her career scoring average of 19.5 points per game ranks fifth in WNBA history.
Holdsclaw won WNBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 after averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in her first season as a professional. She finished in the top 10 MVPs six times during her 11 WNBA seasons, during which she averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. She peaked in 2003, averaging 20.5 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Washington Mystics. She finished her career with three All-WNBA selections and six All-Star nominations and captured the 2002 league scoring title while leading the league in rebounds twice. But those accomplishments weren’t a surprise considering her elite college career at Tennessee, where she won Naismith Player of the Year twice (1998-99) and led the Lady Volunteers to three titles.
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On the men’s side, Rivers is one of seven coaches in NBA history to win Coach of the Year in their first season with a team, doing so with the Orlando Magic in 1999-2000. His 1,183 regular season wins rank sixth in NBA history. In 2008, he led the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history as the Boston Celtics ended a championship drought of more than 20 years. In 2022, the NBA named Rivers one of the 15 greatest coaches in league history.
Griffin, who retired after the 2022-23 season, spent years as one of the most talented and athletic players in the NBA. He averaged 21.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in 765 career games, including a special run as the face of Lob City during arguably the most successful era in LA Clippers history. For the 2013–14 season, he finished third in MVP voting after averaging 24.3 points (the second highest average of his career), 9.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists. His seven triple-doubles are tied for the second-most in Clippers history.
Like Griffin, Stoudemire’s athletic prowess and unmatched offensive skills made for a unique blend during a special career. He played a pivotal role in the Phoenix Suns renaissance led by two-time MVP Steve Nash and then-coach Mike D’Antoni, who joins Stoudemire as a finalist for the Hall. Stoudemire earned six All-Star selections and five All-NBA nominations during his 14-year NBA career. At his peak, the 2002-03 Rookie of the Year averaged over 25 points per game and was one of the most powerful dunkers in the league. He finished his career with averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 846 career games.
D’Antoni’s 253 regular season wins with Phoenix rank third in franchise history. His run as coach of the Seven Seconds or Less Suns included two runs to the Western Conference Finals. In D’Antoni’s four full seasons as coach (2004-05 to 2007-08), Phoenix ranked third in the NBA in winning percentage (.707) and total wins (232).
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There are 21 finalists in total this year. Others include Marques Johnson, Mark Few, Jerry Welsh, Dick Motta, Gary McKnight, Kelvin Sampson, Molly Bolin-Kazmer, Tal Brody, Joey Crawford and Kevin Johnson. Inductees will be announced in April. Consecration weekend is planned for later this year at Mohegan Sun Arena, beginning with a grand opening celebration and awards gala on August 14. The opening ceremony will take place the following day at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
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