The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday released the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2025, headlined by first-time nominees, including retired NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Marc Gasol, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Dwight Howard, Afrosport reports.
WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and Chamique Holdsclaw are also on the nominees list as first-time candidates, along with NBA coaches Doc Rivers and Billy Donovan; Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison; Gonzaga men’s coach Mark Few; and former Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces eligible candidates for the Class of 2025.
🔗 https://t.co/qAYBhHPn6K#25HoopClass pic.twitter.com/Cwj8Zqwz4f
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 19, 2024
The Hall of Fame revealed that there are 189 candidates under consideration across different categories, adding that an update has been made to the eligibility requirements.
The waiting period for player candidates has been reduced from three full seasons of retirement to two seasons, with the change unanimously agreed upon by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Governors.
“Previously, our Guidelines for Nomination and Election required an individual to be retired from the game for three full seasons, which effectively equated to a four-year wait due to our internal process,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
“To better recognise the distinguished careers of potential first-ballot nominees in a more timely manner, the Board has appropriately shortened the waiting period.
“We are excited about this change and believe that honouring individuals while their contributions are still fresh in people’s minds is both meaningful and impactful.”
The Hall, however, announced that from the list released on Thursday, finalists will be selected on 14 February 2025 at the NBA All-Star weekend in San Francisco.
The Class of 2025 inductees will then be unveiled on Saturday, 5 April, at the men’s NCAA Final Four, also in San Francisco.
The enshrinement program will commence on Friday, 5 September, at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, with the tip-off celebration and awards gala, while the enshrinement ceremony follows on 6 September at Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.
