Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Welcomes New Candidates

Former NBA stars Blake Griffin and Amar'e Stoudemire have been announced as first-time candidates for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, following a Friday announcement from the Hall. Joining them on the candidate list are notable ex-NBA players Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson, and WNBA superstars Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker.

The coaching ranks are also represented, featuring NBA coaches Mike D'Antoni, currently leading the Milwaukee Bucks, and Doc Rivers, who has an extensive playing history in the league from 1983 to 1996. College coaches on the ballot include Bruce Pearl—known for his success at Tennessee and Auburn—and Kelvin Sampson, head coach of Gonzaga and Houston.

A standout highlight of this class is the legendary 1996 USA Basketball Women's National Team, which achieved a stunning 60-0 overall record en route to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. Additionally, famous broadcaster Marv Albert, who lent his voice to the New York Knicks and served as the lead play-by-play announcer for NBA on NBC, is also in the running for induction.

Induction Schedule and Details

The Hall of Fame provided a schedule for the upcoming events leading to the ceremony weekend. Finalists chosen by the Category Screening Committees for the Class of 2026 will soon be announced, with the complete Class of 2026 set to be unveiled during a nationally televised broadcast on Saturday, April 4, amid Final Four Weekend. The announcement timing and broadcast networks will be confirmed by Monday, February 9.

Enshrinement Weekend is scheduled to kick off at Mohegan Sun on Friday, August 14, starting with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, followed by the Enshrinement Ceremony the following day at Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall.

Career Highlights of Blake Griffin and Amar'e Stoudemire

Blake Griffin, selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 NBA draft, spent his formative college years at Oklahoma. Despite missing his rookie season due to a knee injury, Griffin enjoyed a fruitful 13-year career characterized by spectacular dunks with the “Lob City” Clippers. He recorded six All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections, and averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds throughout his career, finishing third in the NBA MVP race during the 2013-14 season.

On the other hand, Amar'e Stoudemire was a standout player on the “Seven Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns under coach Mike D'Antoni, where he averaged 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds. Drafted ninth overall in 2002, Stoudemire faced significant challenges, including a major surgery in 2005, yet managed to excel, particularly in his first season with the New York Knicks, where he averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. Despite battling injuries that affected the latter part of his career, Stoudemire is recognized as a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, finishing his career with averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.