The identity of the Class of 2025 of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame just became a little clearer.
A group of 17 finalists for enshrinement were announced Friday as part of the NBA’s All-Star Game weekend, which kicked off in San Francisco.
Headlining the finalist class are former Nuggets and Knicks icon and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, eight-time All-WNBA point guard Sue Bird, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard and four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore.
The group of finalists was whittled from a list of nominees that were announced in mid-December. Nominees are sorted through six categories: North America, Women’s, Contributor, International, Women’s Veteran and Veteran.
Inductees into the Class of 2025 will be announced April 5, coinciding with the weekend of the NCAA’s men’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
Now, a group of 24 voters will cast their selections to determine the shape of the class. For a finalist to get elected, they must secure a minimum of 18 affirmative votes, or a 75% majority. The group of voters consists of Hall of Famers, basketball executives and media members. Finalists are considered based on their achievements on and off the court.
The enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place Sept. 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The full list of finalists, with an asterisk (*) denoting a first-time nominee:
North America Committee
2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (team)
Known as the ‘Redeem Team,’ the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team swept through its schedule with an 8-0 record at the Beijing Summer Games with an average margin of victory of 27.9 points per game.
Carmelo Anthony (player)*
Over his 19 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Nuggets and Knicks, Anthony was a prolific shooter and scorer whose 28,289 career points ranks 10th all-time.
Danny Crawford (referee)*
He was an NBA official for 32 seasons (1985-2017) and officiated more than 2,000 regular-season games, 300 postseason games and was appointed to officiate at least one NBA Finals game in 23 consecutive seasons.
Billy Donovan (coach)*
Although his record in the NBA hasn’t been as prolific as it was in college, Donovan’s two consecutive national championships with the Florida Gators (2006 and 2007) elevated the program to previously uncharted territory; they remain the only national titles the Gators have won in men’s basketball.
Mark Few (coach)*
He has left his mark on Team USA as an assistant, but Few’s claim to fame is as the Gonzaga men’s head coach, where his .831 winning percentage makes him the winningest active coach by percentage.
Dwight Howard (player)*
Known as a dominant presence in the paint, Howard was a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award in consecutive seasons (2009-11). Howard ranks 10th in NBA history in rebounds (14,627) and 13th in blocks (2,228).
Marques Johnson (player)
Known as a pioneer of the point-forward hybrid position, Johnson averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 boards over 11 seasons, garnering five All-Star selections.
Jerry Welsh (coach)
A mainstay at SUNY Potsdam from 1968-91, Welsh compiled a record of 494-141 and led the Bears to the 1981 NCAA Division III national championship.
Buck Williams (player)
Williams was a force on the glass, ranking third all-time in offensive rebounds (4,526) and 16th in total rebounds (13,017).
Women’s Committee
Jennifer Azzi (player)
An inductee of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Azzi starred at Stanford, where she helped the Cardinal win the 1990 national championship and won the 1990 Naismith College Player of the Year award.
Sue Bird (player)*
Known as a pioneer and one of the greatest point guards of all time, Bird is a four-time WNBA champion and a league record 13-time All-Star who played all 21 seasons with the Seattle Storm. She is the all-time leader in wins (333), games played (580), assists (3,234), and minutes (18,079).
Sylvia Fowles (player)*
An eight-time All-Star and the 2017 WNBA Most Valuable Player, Fowles is also a four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021).
Maya Moore (player)*
She played just seven seasons in the WNBA before she devoted her time to social justice reform, but Moore is a six-time All-Star and four-time champion. She averaged 23.9 points per game in 2014, leading the league, and propelling her to the 2014 WNBA Most Valuable Player award.
Women’s Veteran Committee
Molly Bolin (player)
She was the first player signed in Women’s Professional Basketball League history. Known for her scoring proficiency, Bolin’s 32.8 points per game in the 1980-81 season was the highest professional scoring average ever by a woman at that time.
International Committee
Dušan Ivković (coach)
The former Serbian player’s coaching career in Europe spanned a staggering six decades. Ivković won a pair of EuroLeague championships in 1997 and 2012 and is a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in the Class of 2017.
Contributors Committee
Micky Arison*
He bought the Miami Heat in 1995 and has ushered in a period of stability and success, overseeing three NBA championships (2006, 2012, 2013) and seven Eastern Conference championships.
Tal Brody
His 1977 Maccabi Tel Aviv team won the FIBA European Champions Cup, becoming the first Israeli squad to win that competition. In 1979, he won the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize, and became the first athlete to ever win the award.