The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame unveiled the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2025, headlined by first-time nominees Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Dwight Howard.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame unveiled the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2025 on Thursday, headlined by first-time nominees Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Dwight Howard, Doc Rivers, Billy Donovan, Sylvia Fowles, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mark Few, Lisa Bluder, Marc Gasol, and Micky Arison.
Finalists from the applicable Category Screening Committees will be announced on Feb. 14 during NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. The entire Class of 2025 will be revealed on April 5 during the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.
The Hall of Fame also announced a significant change to its eligibility criteria, reducing the waiting period for Player candidates from three full seasons out of the game to two.
“Previously, our Guidelines for Nomination and Election required an individual to be retired from the game for three full seasons, which effectively equated to a four-year wait due to our internal process,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “To better recognize the distinguished careers of potential first-ballot nominees in a more timely manner, the Board has appropriately shortened the waiting period. We are excited about this change and believe that honoring individuals while their contributions are still fresh in people’s minds is both meaningful and impactful.”
The Class of 2025 will be enshrined during a weekend celebration beginning with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala at Mohegan Sun on Sept. 5. The formal Enshrinement Ceremony will take place the following day at Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall.
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