Hall of Fame: Class of 2026

Best moments from 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony

Relive details and stories from the enshrinement ceremony as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was immortalized.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Amar’e Stoudemire was among those inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday as part of the Class of 2026.

Welcome to our live blog coverage of the enshrinement of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which featured Amar’e Stoudemire, Mike D’Antoni, Doc Rivers and Candace Parker among others.

Enjoy all the details from the Awards Gala and Enshrinement Ceremony.

What we know about the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony:

10:17 PM / AUGUST 15

A celebratory night in Springfield

9:57 PM / AUGUST 15

The Class is officially enshrined

“On the stage are some of the absolute best and brightest stars the game of basketball has ever known, whose careers and contributions are to be honored here in the Hall of Fame,” said Chairman Jerry Colangelo, naming each member of the class. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it’s my honor to officially declare that you are enshrined as the newest members of the (Naismith) Basketball Hall of Fame.”

9:32 PM / AUGUST 15

Candace Parker enters the Hall of Fame

A two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and three-time champion, Parker was a one-of-a-kind all-around talent, becoming a signature player in the women’s game.

“My muse, (the basketball). We did a lot together. We dunked on UConn, at UConn — oh yeah, we’re going to talk our stuff. We shimmied over our right shoulder and hit that sick fadeaway off the glass so many times. We had our own signature shoe; we were the first woman to grace the cover of NBA 2K. We traveled from Milan to Tokyo; we assisted, we were positionless. We won at every level for every team we played for, and now we stand on the podium as first-ballot Hall of Famers,” said Parker. “There will be others that follow, but my wish is: may you grow it, may you love it, may you enjoy it, and may you leave it better. Whether the beginning at 13, or now at 40, it was never about anything else — we were meant to be. A love story that began 27 years ago.”

Cheryl Miller, Allen Iverson, Tamika Catchings and Dwyane Wade served as presenters for Parker.

9:10 PM / AUGUST 15

Amar’e Stoudemire enters the Hall of Fame

A six-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA team member, Stoudemire was a key feature for the “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns, then led the New York Knicks to the playoffs in 2011, ending a seven-year drought.

He discussed his life and transition from growing up in poverty in Florida to the NBA and beyond.

“The most important aspect that I can give, that I experienced — when you’re growing up in an environment when it’s not easy to make it out of, the most important factor for me was, first of all, stay out of trouble … stay positive, stay focused, stay meaningful, and always keep in mind that perseverance, no matter what one goes through, one can persevere through anything,” said Stoudemire.

Jerry Colangelo, Mike D’Antoni, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash and Rick Welts served as presenters for Stoudemire.

NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt has more for you about Stoudemire’s career.

8:48 PM / AUGUST 15

Glenn “Doc” Rivers enters the Hall of Fame

Rivers, who led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship, ranks sixth on the all-time wins list with 1,194 victories.

“When you win a title, it’s like receiving a blood transfusion. You three guys are connected for the rest of your lives — you really are. And I want you guys to hear that, and understand that,” said Rivers to his presenters, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Rivers spoke proudly of coaching his son, Austin, with the LA Clippers from 2015-18.

“I am positive that you thought I was harder on you than everybody else… We were talking one time, and you said it was okay, because you knew it was coming from a loving place,” said Rivers. “And I thought, ‘damn, that’s the trick.’ If you can be a coach and coach your players hard, and they know it comes from a loving place, you can be really successful in this business. So thank you for teaching me that…”

“My Mom was right — I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Ubuntu. Thank you guys.”

NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has more for you about Rivers’ career.

8:40 PM / AUGUST 15

The 1996 United States Women’s Olympic Basketball team enters the Hall

Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tara VanDerveer presented the legendary squad.

Leslie remembered being down 30 at halftime with her teammates in Russia, chipping away bit-by-bit to maintain their perfect record, which reached 52-0 before the 1996 Olympics.

“This team was the foundation of what the WNBA became,” said Lobo. “It was that year together, of hard times and laughter, that made our team be able to be what it was.”

8:21 PM / AUGUST 15

Elena Delle Donne enters the Hall of Fame

A native of Delaware, Delle Donne is a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and 2019 WNBA champion.

She spoke about her life, sharing a love letter to the game and affection for her family in her remarks.

“I’ve realized this speech isn’t really about getting into the Hall of Fame. It’s about saying goodbye. Not to basketball… but goodbye to the player I’ve been for as long as I can remember, where every season began with hope, every summer had a purpose, and every morning I woke up asking one question — ‘how can I get better today?'” Delle Donne said. “I’ve spent my whole life in love with this game.”

“The question I’ve been wrestling with is ‘what do you do after you’ve spent your whole life in love with one thing?’ You write a love letter and you deliver it in front of a few thousand people, so here we go.”

“Dear basketball, you’ve been the longest relationship of my life… You’ve been with me since I was a gangly kid in Delaware, trying to shoot over a ladder named Oscar to help me develop my shooting arc. You never cared if I was awkward; you turned my greatest childhood insecurity — my height — into a superpower… You just kept asking ‘again?’, so I did again, again and again. You taught me that greatness isn’t built on game day — it’s built on ordinary Tuesdays when no one is watching. You taught me that confidence doesn’t magically appear — it’s earned, one shot at a time, one workout at a time, one empty gym at a time. You gave me teammates who became sisters; opponents who made me better… coaches who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. You took me around the world.”

Sylvia Fowles and Marianne Stanley served as presenters for Delle Donne.

8:08 PM / AUGUST 15

Mark Few enters the Hall of Fame

A native of Creswell, Oregon and the son of a pastor, Few has coached 929 NCAA basketball games at Gonzaga, reaching 28 NCAA Tournaments and two national championship games.

Over the years, he coached NBA players Domantas Sabonis, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Rui Hachimura, Kelly Olynyk, Brandon Clarke, Corey Kispert, Zach Collins, Adam Morrison, Andrew Nembhard, Killian Tillie and Ronnie Turiaf.

“This isn’t about me tonight. The greatest thing we built at Gonzaga wasn’t a basketball program — it was a family and a culture. It kept people wanting to come back. That is one of the greatest rewards that a coach who has stayed at the same place gets to experience — seeing all the former players come back to live and raise their families, or just to check in once as a while, not as players, but as great friends,” said Few. “I’m telling you, it doesn’t get any better than that as a coach.”

“Looking around this room tonight, it’s so humbling to realize how many people helped shape this journey. I may be the one standing here, but this honor belongs to so many others. This weekend has been one of the greatest, unbelievable experiences and honors of my life. I am truly, truly a blessed man, and I thank everybody.”

John Stockton, John Calipari and Grant Hill served as presenters for Few.

NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt has more for you about Few’s career.

7:42 PM / AUGUST 15

Mike D’Antoni enters the Hall of Fame

After starring as a coach and player in Italy, D’Antoni helped revolutionize the NBA by creating the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ Phoenix Suns, who ushered in the pick-and-roll, pace and space and the 3-pointer as the dominant features of NBA offense.

“In Phoenix, we had incredible talent — Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, Joe Johnson, Grant Hill, and this guy, Amar’e Stoudemire. Man, Amar’e, you posterized so many people, it’s crazy,” said D’Antoni. “Then we signed this long-haired Canadian soccer player — Steve Nash. Steve, I’m proud that your two MVP titles were won with the Suns. All of you guys, all of you guys, are why coaching is so rewarding.”

“Our players and coaches had the courage to embrace a different way of playing, and together, we influenced the game.”

“The Hall of Fame is about leaving an impact and mine is simple. We made the game a little faster, a little brighter, and a heck of a lot more fun. Luckiest man in the world. Spent my life doing what I love alongside people I love.”

Jerry Colangelo, Bob McAdoo, Nash, Stoudemire, and Rod Thorn served as presenters for D’Antoni.

NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt has more for you about D’Antoni’s career.

7:24 PM / AUGUST 15

Joey Crawford enters the Hall of Fame

Crawford got the idea of being a referee from his father, Shag Crawford, who called more than 3,100 games in Major League Baseball and connected him to legendary NBA official Jake O’Donnell.

After working in the Baker League in Philadelphia, calling games involving Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Bill Bradley and Mike Bantom, and the Eastern League, the predecessor to the Continental Basketball Association, Crawford joined the NBA in 1977.

He went on to work 2,561 regular season games, setting records for the most Playoff games (374) and Finals games (50) refereed as well. He officiated in every NBA Finals from 1986 to 2015.

“As the great Muhammad Ali once said ‘it ain’t bragging if you did it’ — and I did,” said Crawford. “Yes, I did! I did. I’m extremely proud of my career, and I’ve been very fortunate to work with wonderful people… You don’t do this alone — you do this with help.”

Danny Crawford and Rod Thorn served as presenters for Crawford.

NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has more for you about Crawford’s career.

7:15 PM / AUGUST 15

Chamique Holdsclaw enters the Hall of Fame

The three-time NCAA champion opens the program with remarks, speaking to those struggling with mental health challenges in her conclusion.

Holdsclaw battled clinical depression, severe anxiety and bipolar disorder during her career, speaking out to offer support and wisdom in 2012 and during her post-playing life.

“Anyone carrying a weight that never shows up in the box score, I see you. Your struggle does not disqualify you. Your story is not over and your greatness is still within you,” said Holdsclaw. “Every chapter matters; every scar matters; every comeback matters… To quote my birthday twin, Whitney Houston, ‘I am every woman.'”

“This basketball journey that I’ve been on, that I’ve had the honor of traveling throughout my life, has seen many versions of me. A daughter, a sister, a teammate, a NCAA champion, an Olympian, a professional athlete, a friend, a mental health advocate, a wife, a mother — and now, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Thank you for this incredible honor. Thank God, I’m just so grateful. Thank you everyone.”

Tamika Catchings, Tina Thompson and Teresa Weatherspoon served as presenters for Holdsclaw.

6:15 PM / AUGUST 15

Arriving at Symphony Hall

5:30 PM / AUGUST 15

Pass the phone: Hall of Fame edition

Legendary connections here.

4:15 PM / AUGUST 15

A special day for women’s basketball

Three WNBA legends — Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker — enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame today, along with the trailblazing 1996 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, which won gold for the United States.

Holdsclaw, a three-time national champion at Tennessee, was a tremendous athlete and rebounder, twice averaging a double-double in the WNBA. She could also put the ball on the deck and score, showing a polished offensive game for a forward. There were times it felt like she could do anything on the court.

Holdsclaw made six All-Star teams and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team on three occasions.

Delle Donne was a world-class scoring big in her prime, similar to Dirk Nowitzki as an inside-outside threat. She was a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player, and teamed with Kristi Toliver to bring the Washington Mystics the title in 2019.

Parker, a two-time national champion at Tennessee, was a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and three-time champion.

Too big, strong and fast for most opponents, she earned seven All-WNBA First Team selections — tied for third-most all-time with Tamika Catchings and Lauren Jackson. Parker led the league in rebounding three times, was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.

The 1996 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team helped set the stage for the WNBA, bringing together a series of all-time greats to launch a 28-year gold medal streak for the United States.

It featured stars like Katrina McClain and Teresa Edwards, who largely made their names before the WNBA, as well as legends Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo, who helped usher in the new league.

10:29 PM / AUGUST 14

The Class of 2026 receives their Hall of Fame jackets

9:18 PM / AUGUST 14

Mike Fratello receives the electronic Curt Gowdy Media Award

A native of Hackensack, N.J., Fratello was the 1986 NBA Coach of the Year, winning 667 games over 16 seasons before moving on to television, where Marv Albert dubbed him the “Czar of the telestrator.”

“From the time I started, it’s been 30 years in coaching, and 27 years in broadcasting,” said Fratello. “Michael Fratello has been one blessed individual, and is humble and thankful to be here this evening.”

8:59 PM / AUGUST 14

Leah Wilcox wins the 2026 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement award

Wilcox, a 41-year employee of the NBA, is the league’s Vice President, Commissioner’s Office Liaison, reaching out to players and families. The first Black female vice president at the NBA, she was also integral to the creation of NBA Inside Stuff.

Legendary players Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and Isiah Thomas shared their gratitude for Wilcox’s efforts to welcome them to the league and ease the transition for their families.

“Leah’s been like a Mom to all of us for all these years,” said Barkley.

“Leah was always there for my Mom,” said O’Neal. “She was a first mentor to me.”

Wilcox began working for the NBA in 1985, joining the newly-formed NBA Entertainment.

She shouted out Commissioner Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and former Commissioner David Stern, among others, for their support over the years, as well as a series of former and current NBA employees and the 1985 NBA Draft class.

“The Bronx is in the Hall, y’all,” Wilcox said to cap her remarks.

Tonya Pendleton has more about Wilcox’s career and achievements for NBA.com.

8:32 PM / AUGUST 14

Seth Davis earns the print Curt Gowdy Media Award

Davis, a writer for 22 years with Sports Illustrated, has covered the NCAA Tournament for CBS since 2004 and written five books, including two New York Times best-sellers.

“I’m grateful beyond words, and I can’t wait to get back to work,” said Davis.

8:05 PM / AUGUST 14

Chris Carrino receives the broadcast Curt Gowdy Media Award

Carrino, the radio announcer of the Brooklyn Nets, was introduced to the craft of play-by-play by Marty Glickman, the second-ever Gowdy Award winner and a legendary voice of the New York Knicks.

“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the NBA,” said Carrino. “I am a lucky man. I get to do the thing I love with the people I love, like my broadcast partner of the last 24 last years, The Capper, Tim Capstraw.”

Carrino, thanked his son, Christopher, and his wife, Laura, for their role in his life. He noted he and his wife created the Chris Carrino Foundation for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy research after he was diagnosed with the disease, sharing his gratitude for her work.

“This award is empowering. There’s so many people out there who have something beyond their control that they think is going to prevent them from pursuing their dreams,” said Carrino. “But I’m here to tell you, if you have the skill, the talent, the passion … you don’t have to let a disability keep you from reaching the pinnacle of your profession.”

7:30 PM / AUGUST 14

The Red Carpet’s rolled out

Watch the Celebration and Awards Gala at 8 ET on NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App.

6:30 PM / AUGUST 14

The one-of-a-kind voice of Joey Crawford

The Pennsylvania native set records for most Playoff games (374) and Finals games (50) refereed, working 2,561 regular season contests as well.

He was a fixture on the court, officiating in every NBA Finals from 1986 to 2015.

NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has more for you about the legendary referee’s career and impact on the game.

4:42 PM / AUGUST 14

A celebration in Chicago

4:11 PM / AUGUST 14

The best of Amar’e

A six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA team member, Amar’e Stoudemire was a devastating force around the rim, accelerating the development of the pick-and-roll in the NBA.

Before he’s enshrined, watch the man come down the lane and throw it down.

3:23 PM / AUGUST 13

Follow the weekend schedule

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 takes center stage this weekend, beginning Friday at Mohegan Sun with an autograph session before the Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, where the inductees will receive their Hall of Fame rings and jackets.

The festivities move to Springfield, Mass., on Saturday, culminating with the Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall at 7 p.m. ET, when the Class of 2026 will officially enter the Hall of Fame.

Check out full details.

10:29 PM / AUGUST 12

Class of 2026 inductees

North American Committee Inductees (in alphabetical order):

  • Joey Crawford [Referee]
  • Mark Few [Coach]
  • Doc Rivers [Coach]
  • Amar’e Stoudemire [Player]

 Women’s Committee Inductees:

  • 1996 United States Women’s National Team
  • Elena Delle Donne [Player]
  • Chamique Holdsclaw [Player]
  • Candace Parker [Player]

 Contributors Committee Inductees:

  • Mike D’Antoni

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