There were 17 finalists named for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025 at NBA All-Star Weekend, with several big names leading the way.
Carmelo Anthony is arguably the biggest name of the bunch from the NBA side of things, but the list also includes Dwight Howard and the entirety of the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, which both players were on.
On the women’s side are notable names like Sue Bird and Maya Moore. Notable coaches include Gonzaga’s Mark Few and current Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. Longtime referee Danny Crawford is also up for the Hall of Fame.
Anthony was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds over a 19-year NBA career that featured stops in Denver, with the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers. He also led Syracuse to a national championship in his only collegiate season (2003).
Howard was one of the NBA’s most dominant big men, especially during his prime. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. A three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 18 seasons.
He played for the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers during his career. He was part of the Lakers’ 2020 championship squad.
