The 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists were announced Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah, to kick off NBA All-Star Weekend. It was a star-studded lineup, with the full class scheduled to be announced later during the NCAA Final Four.
Finalists include legendary players like Dwywane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was also nominated, while current Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon was nominated as a player.
A total of 12 people were named finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023. It is made up of six players and as many coaches for men’s, women’s and university basketball.
Who are the finalists for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class?
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade is one of the headliners for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists. Wade is likely to be enshrined, given all of his accomplishments during his career.
Wade is a three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat. He is also a one-time NBA Finals MVP and a 13-time All-Star. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team and is arguably one of the top five shooting guards in league history.
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#2 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki was honored earlier this season by the Dallas Mavericks with his statue outside the American Airlines Center. It’s safe to assume that Nowitzki won’t just be a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
He played 21 seasons for one team, which is an NBA record. He is a former NBA MVP, a one-time NBA Champion, a one-time NBA Finals MVP, and a 14-time All-Star. The German international is also often considered one of the best European players to have appeared in the NBA.
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#3 Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol played in the NBA for 18 seasons on five different teams. He was with the Memphis Grizzlies for the first six and a half years of his career. He was traded to the LA Lakers in 2008 and teamed with Kobe Bryant to win two NBA championships.
Gasol is also a former Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star. His international career was filled with accomplishments, including two Olympic silver medals, an Olympic bronze medal, one World Cup and three EuroBasket championships. He is a well-deserved finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
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#4 tony parker
Tony Parker might not have the star power of the other Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class 2023 finalists, but he certainly is a winner. Parker is a four-time NBA Champion, a one-time NBA Finals MVP, and a six-time All-Star.
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#5 Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in basketball history. He deserved his place as a finalist for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Popovich has the most wins (1,358 and counting) in NBA history. He also led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships and Team USA to an Olympic gold medal.
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Other nominees
Other finalists for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame include former WNBA stars Becky Hammon and Jennifer Azzi. Former Texas A&M Women’s coach Gary Blair, longtime Kansas Women’s coach Marian Washington, college basketball’s all-time wins leader Gene Bess, Purdue’s Gene Keady and Amherst College’s David Hixon also attended. named finalists.
ESPN’s Holly Rowe received the 2023 Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award, while Andscape’s Marc J. Spears received the 2023 Curt Gowdy Print Media Award. CBS Sports College Basketball also received the 2023 Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award, and Tom Konchalski is the 2023 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Awardee.
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