The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed this week the list of finalists being considered for induction into its Class of 2026, as announced in an official league press release.
These finalists will now advance to the Honors Committee, which will evaluate the candidates before making final selections. The official Hall of Fame class is scheduled to be unveiled on Saturday, April 4, during Final Four weekend.
Among the North American Committee finalists are longtime referee Joey Crawford, along with several accomplished coaches: Mark Few, Gary McKnight, Dick Motta, Doc Rivers, Kelvin Sampson, and Jerry Welsh.
The player finalists from this group include Blake Griffin, Kevin Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Buck Williams, all recognized for their significant contributions to the game.
The Women’s Committee finalists feature the 1996 United States Women’s National Team, as well as standout players Jennifer Azzi, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker, each of whom left a lasting impact on women’s basketball.
From the Women’s Veterans Committee, Molly Bolin-Kazmer stands as the sole finalist. The International Committee selected legendary coach Dušan Ivković as its only finalist, while Marques Johnson represents the Veterans Committee as its lone candidate.
In addition, the Contributors Committee named Tal Brody and Mike D’Antoni as its finalists for consideration.
And-Ones: Hall Of Fame Finalists, Kelly, Expansion, Investigations https://t.co/6BmJUIr1IY pic.twitter.com/q30JKlnFLk
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 14, 2026
