Several former NBA stars are first-time nominees on the list of eligible players released Wednesday by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Headlining the list are Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA titles with the Heat, along with three international players, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
Wade was a 13-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA honoree and a member of the 75th anniversary team that was selected last year. He is currently a part owner of the Jazz.
Nowitzki, also on the 75th anniversary team, is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in league history with 31,560 career points. He was named MVP in 2007 and was chosen as Finals MVP in 2011 after leading the Mavericks to their first championship. He set a league record by spending 21 years with the same franchise, made the All-Star Game 14 times and was an All-NBA selection 12 times.
Gasol captured back-to-back NBA titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and was the first non-American to be honored as Rookie of the Year. A six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, Gasol was also successful internationally, winning a FIBA World Cup, three EuroBasket titles and three Olympic medals with Spain.
Parker played a huge role in helping the Spurs win four NBA championships and was named Finals MVP in 2007. He was a six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, and was named MVP of EuroBasket in 2013 as France won the tournament.
Popovich holds the record for most wins by an NBA coach with 1,354. He guided the Spurs to five NBA titles and was named Coach of the Year three times.
Finalists for enshrinement will be announced February 17 during All-Star Weekend, and the Class of 2023 will be unveiled April 4 during the NCAA’s Final Four. The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for August 12.
“Headlining the list are Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA titles with the Heat, along with three international players, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.”
Pops is heading the list, to me. He’s a Lifer. All 5 are going in. All very deserving too.
That’s a nice starting 4 right there.
Wade – SG
Tony – PG
Pau – C
Dirk – PG
Pops in his day played. He could be the 5th.
PF ……. excuse me
Strong class. It would be a shocker if any of them is not a first ballot.
The only possible question marks to me are Parker and Gasol. I say no to both, but I could understand Gasol more than Parker. For Parker I just think 15 and 6 isn’t elite. He’s not the best of the best. It’s not an insult to say he not a HOF’er, he had an amazing career. Gasol is a bit more complicated. The numbers are pretty much there. Plus when you add his international accolades, I could see why he’s a HOF’er.
I love Justin Termine‘s philosophy on this stuff. If you don’t know who he is he co hosts the evening NBA radio show with Eddie Johnson (who isn’t in the hall and was prob better than Parker). Termine says if you even have to think about it and talk yourself into it, then he’s not HOF. Using this philosophy neither would get in. But I could prob talk myself into Gasol and live with it.
On the flip side, Wade, Dirk, Pop … you don’t even have to think about it for a second. I think that line between these five guys is exactly the difference between a hall of famer and a guy who was really good but not an all time great who belongs in the Hall.
All of them make it easily. There’s lesser players in the hall plus the international game counts as well with Pau and Parker being great servants to their nations there
hear hear. i hope the hall becomes stricter because if former players better than pau and tony aren’t even considered then wow
cant believe its been 5 years since d wade retired already
Wow Tony 2013 fifa mvp
And a decade later long gone
Play while you can young legs !