The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was officially announced at the Final Four on Saturday and is loaded.
Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade, legends of the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat, lead the way among players. The addition of Pau Gasol and Tony Parker alongside Nowitzki also means the class will feature three of the best European players ever.
Just among that quartet of players, you have 39 NBA All-Star selections, 10 NBA championships, and four Olympic medals.
The most legendary figure to be included, however, is arguably San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion. Her former assistant, current Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, will also be listed for her career as a WNBA player, though her work as her coach could end up being worthy in its own right.
The addition of Popovich and Parker also completes the passage of the Spurs dynasty to the Hall of Fame, with Tim Duncan earning induction in 2020 and Manu Ginobili in 2022.
Trainers Gene Bess, Gary Blair, David Hixon, Gene Keady and Jimmy Valvano also received the call.
The 1976 Olympic women’s basketball team, which won the silver medal in its first appearance at the Olympics, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for August 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks (1998-2019)
Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat (2003-16, 2018-19), Chicago Bulls (2016-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18)
-
Three-time NBA champion (2006, 2012, 2013)
-
2006 Finals MVP
-
13-time NBA All-Star
-
2009 NBA Scoring Champion
-
Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
-
2008 Olympic gold medalist
Pau Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies (2001-08), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-14), Chicago Bulls (2014-16), San Antonio Spurs (2016-19), Milwaukee Bucks (2019)
-
Two-time NBA champion (2009, 2010)
-
Six-time NBA All-Star
-
2002 NBA Rookie of the Year
-
2006 FIBA ​​World Cup gold medalist, three-time Olympic medalist
tony parker
San Antonio Spurs (2001-18), Charlotte Hornets (2018-19)
-
Four-time NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
-
Most Valuable Player of the 2007 NBA Finals
-
Six-time NBA All-Star
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs (1996-present)
-
Five-time NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
-
Three-time NBA Coach of the Year
-
NBA all-time wins leader (1,363)
becky hammond
As a player: New York Liberty (199-2006), San Antonio Stars (2007-14)
As manager: San Antonio Spurs (2014-2022), Las Vegas Aces (2022-present)
