Wade, Nowitzki, Popovich headline Hall of Fame 2023 finalists
The greatest Maverick in franchise history, two Spurs icons and the best Spaniard in NBA history — a guy who helped Kobe pick up a couple of rings — are all up for the basketball’s highest honor.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the finalists for the 2023 class, and some players who are locks to get in sit at the top of that board: Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker.
At the top of the list from the North American Committee are:
Dwyane Wade is arguably the greatest two guard in the game’s history (assuming Jordan is a three), a three-time NBA champion and the 2006 Finals MVP. His resume includes eight All-NBA teams and 13 trips to the All-Star game, but more than that he is the talisman of the Miami Heat, the franchise icon that belongs in the Hall.
Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest Maverick ever and the greatest European player in NBA history, an NBA champion and Finals MVP, plus he won the regular season MVP in 2007. His consistency over a 21-year career is legendary and he is sixth all-time in scoring in league history, plus he was a 12-time All-NBA player and 14-time All-Star. The only thing more sure than Nowitzki getting in is Mark Cuban being there for his enshrinement.
Gregg Popovich, the iconic coach of the five-time champion San Antonio Spurs — a team that won 50+ games 18-straight seasons with him at the helm, helping him on the way to being the winningest coach in NBA history. “Pop” also was always active with Team USA, including taking over the head coaching job and helping USA Basketball win the gold again in the Tokyo Olympics. One of the legends he coached was…
Tony Parker, the point guard for much of the Spurs’ legendary run, is a four-time NBA champion and was Finals MVP in 2007. He has four All-NBA nods and six All-Star trips, but what cements his spot in the Hall of Fame is his international resume, he was the MVP of EuroBasket 2013, which France won.’
Pau Gasol is another player with an impressive NBA and international resume. He is a two-time NBA champion, four-time All-NBA, six-time All-Star, and was the Rookie of the Year in 2002. He led Spain to the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and won three Olympic medals (two silver, one bronze), and he carried the flag for Spain at the 2012 Olympics.
Also nominated are:
• Gene Keady, the legendary Purdue coach who was a seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.
• Gene Bess, who coached the Three Rivers Community College in Popular Bluff, Mo., for 50 years, winning 1,300 games (he’s the winningest college basketball coach across all levels).
• David Hixon, who coached at Amherst College for 42 years and amassed 826 wins and two D3 national championships.
• Becky Hammon, who most NBA fans know as the first women’s assistant coach in the NBA and current coach of the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, but before that she was a six-time WNBA All-Star.
Nowitzki, Wade, Gasol, Popovich reportedly headline Hall of Fame class
It will not become official until Saturday, but this is shaping up to be a legendary Hall of Fame class.
Dwyane Wade. Dirk Nowitzki. Gregg Popovich. Pau Gasol. Tony Parker. Becky Hammon. They are all in, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
This is a deep class, and there was no question about any of those players’ Hall of Fame credentials.
Wade is one of the (arguably THE) greatest shooting guard in the history of the game, winning three rings as a member of the Miami Heat, plus making eight All-NBA teams and 13 trips to the All-Star game. Nowitzki is the greatest Maverick ever and the greatest European player in NBA history, an NBA champion and Finals MVP, plus he won the regular season MVP in 2007.
Popovich, the legendary coach of the five-time champion San Antonio Spurs — a team that won 50+ games 18-straight seasons with him at the helm, plus he coached Team USA to the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Parker was the point guard for much of that Spurs run, is a four-time NBA champion and was Finals MVP in 2007. Gasol is a two-time NBA champion, four-time All-NBA,and led Spain to the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and won three Olympic medals.
The Hall of Fame class will officially be announced on Saturday.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announces 2023 enshrinement ceremony presenters
The 2023 enshrinement ceremony will be held Saturday, August 12 in Springfield, Mass.
Official release
July 12, 2023 2:32 PM
Gregg Popovich will be presented by David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2023 at the Enshrinement Ceremony to be held Saturday, August 12, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball.” 45 Hall of Famers are expected to be in attendance for the ceremony, including all presenters.
Members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 were asked to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers. The choice is solely the decision of the incoming Hall of Famers or their family members if recognized posthumously.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:
• 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, presented by Ann Meyers (Class of 1993), Nancy Lieberman (‘96)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announces 2023 enshrinement ceremony presenters
The 2023 enshrinement ceremony will be held Saturday, August 12 in Springfield, Mass.
Official release
July 12, 2023 2:32 PM
Gregg Popovich will be presented by David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of Hall of Famers scheduled to present the Class of 2023 at the Enshrinement Ceremony to be held Saturday, August 12, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball.” 45 Hall of Famers are expected to be in attendance for the ceremony, including all presenters.
Members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 were asked to select previous inductees to accompany and present them to their peers. The choice is solely the decision of the incoming Hall of Famers or their family members if recognized posthumously.
The 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:
• 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team, presented by Ann Meyers (Class of 1993), Nancy Lieberman (‘96)
• David Hixon, presented by Jim Calhoun (‘05), John Calipari (‘15)
• Dirk Nowitzki, presented by Jason Kidd (‘18), Steve Nash (‘18)
• Dwyane Wade, presented by Allen Iverson (‘16)
• Gary Blair, presented by Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19), Van Chancellor (‘07)
• Gene Bess, presented by Chris Bosh (‘21), John Calipari (‘15), Roy Williams (‘07)
• Gene Keady, presented by Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Tom Izzo (‘16)
• Gregg Popovich, presented by David Robinson (‘09), Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20), Tony Parker (‘23)
• Jim Valvano, presented by John Calipari (‘15)
• Pau Gasol, presented by Toni Kukoč (‘21)
• Tony Parker, presented by Manu Ginobili (‘22), Tim Duncan (‘20)
A most deserving list. But dang, as if the Spurs don't have enough good news and good feelins with Wemby, they get Manu and Duncan to close the circle on the three of them in the HoF, and then those three plus Robinson to present the arguably GOAT coach? I liked it better when the Spurs sucked just above the tank-for-greatness level. Plus Becky Hammon
Anyway, Valvano, Wade, Dirk!, and of course Pau, Pau, Pau. Wish things were different and instead of Kukoc, the right one presented Pau.
Ime Udoka was there for the HOF ceremony for Pop's induction. Which kind of surprises me given how I didn't expect him to return to the Boston area beyond coaching.
Apparently Lebron wasn’t in attendance for Dwayne’s hall of fame induction. Yikes.
That's surprising to hear. Likely just a schedule conflict but still... Hmm 🤔
Contrast that to Jimmy Buckets who surprised Pau Gasol at his jersey retirement.
They only played with each other for two seasons too. Reminds of when Shaq didn't show up for Chick's funeral services. Not a good look! _________________ KOBE
Why Pop, Parker Left Kawhi Out of Hall of Fame Speeches
SAN ANTONIO - A few people who listen or watch my podcast have reached out to ask why neither Gregg Popovich nor Tony Parker recognized Kawhi Leonard during respective Hall of Fame speeches this past weekend.
There isn't any doubt that Leonard was the best player on the 2014 NBA Championship team. The San Antonio Spurs were desperate to avenge the 2013 Finals loss to Miami. There is a strong case to be had they wouldn't have been able to without Kawhi. When he wasn't frustrating and bottling LeBron James on defense he was a menace offensively in one of the most efficient team efforts in NBA Finals history. Leonard was the easy choice as series MVP.
That's when it began to unravel.
The shocking divorce between Leonard and the Spurs led to bad blood that still boils on occasion in South Texas. It is well known that Leonard took offense to comments made by Parker who suffered a similar knee injury in subsequent years. Parker made a speedy recovery while Leonard did not and still battles knee issues to this day. Leonard felt like Parker was accusing him of not only milking his injury but of also using it as an excuse to let the bad feelings with the Spurs fester.
There isn't anyone in San Antonio who thinks they would have won the title without Leonard. Few of them just want to admit. The break up was that bad.
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