SPRINGFIELD, MA – Today, December 21st, marks the 125th Anniversary of Basketball – the game that was invented by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Mass. and has grown into an international pastime.
As part of the celebration of this momentous day, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the eligible candidates for the Class of 2017. A first look at the list was provided by The Jump on ESPN2, hosted by Rachel Nichols and first-time Hall of Fame nominee Tracy McGrady. A complete list of eligible candidates can be found below.
A press conference announcing the Finalists from the North American and Women’s committee for the Class of 2017 will be held at NBA All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th in New Orleans, Louisiana. The entire Class of 2017, including those selected by the direct elect committees, will be unveiled on Monday, April 3rd at the Men’s NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.
Enshrinement festivities will take place in Springfield, Mass., September 7-9, 2017. Tickets for the various Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Enshrinement events are on sale as of noon eastern time on www.hoophall.com.
North American Committee Nominations
Mark Aguirre (PLA)
Geese Ausbie (PLA)
Bill Bertka (COA)
Muggsy Bogues (PLA)*
Junior Bridgeman (PLA)
Irv Brown (REF)
Maurice Cheeks (PLA)
Terry Cummings (PLA)
Charles “Lefty” Driesell (COA)
Hugh Evans (REF)
Bill Fitch (COA)
Cotton Fitzsimmons (COA)
Tim Hardaway (PLA)
Del Harris (COA)
Robert Hughes (COA)
Kevin Johnson (PLA)
Marques Johnson (PLA)
Bobby Jones (PLA)
Jerry “Tiger” Jones (COA)
Gene Keady (COA)
Rollie Massimino (COA)
Tracy McGrady (PLA)*
Gary McKnight (COA)
Danny Miles (COA)
Sidney Moncrief (PLA)
Dick Motta (COA)
Swen Nater (PLA)
Jake O’Donnell (REF)*
Jim Phelan (COA)*
Mark Price (PLA)
Jere Quinn (COA)*
Glenn Robinson (COA)
Lee Rose (COA)
Bo Ryan (COA)
Bob Saulsbury (COA)*
Bill Self (COA)*
Jack Sikma (PLA)
Steve Smith (COA)
Fred Snowden (COA)
Harry Statham (COA)*
Eddie Sutton (COA)
Rudy Tomjanovich (COA)
Ben Wallace (PLA)*
Chris Webber (PLA)
Paul Westphal (PLA)
Women’s Committee Nominations
Leta Andrews (COA)
Jennifer Azzi (PLA)
Rebecca Lobo (PLA)
Muffet McGraw (COA)
Susie McConnell (PLA)
Pearl Moore (PLA)
Kim Mulkey (COA, PLA)
Harley Redin (COA)
Theresa Shank (PLA)
Marianne Stanley (COA)
Barbara Stevens (COA)
Wayland Baptist (TEA)
Therea Weatherspoon (PLA)
International Committee Nominations
Tal Brody
Jackie Chazalon
Vlade Divac
Nick Galis
Semen Khalipski
Vladimir Kondrashin
Toni Kukoc
Marcos Leite
Aldo Ossola
Amaury Pasos
Dino Radja
Manuel Sainz
Togo Soares
Ranko Zeravica
Veterans Committee Nominations
1936 US Olympic Team (TEA)
1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors (TEA)
Ron Boone (PLA)
Sid Borgia (REF)*
Carl Braun (PLA)
Frank Brian (PLA)
Joe Caldwell (PLA)
Mack Calvin (PLA)
Charles Eckman (REF)
Leroy Edwards (PLA)
Leo Ferris (CONT)
Clarence “Bevo” Francis (PLA)
Buck Freeman (COA)
Donnie Freeman (PLA)
Travis Grant (PLA)
Bob Grody (PLA)
Robert Harrison (PLA)
Flo Harvey (PLA)
Dick Hemric (PLA)*
Cam Henderson (COA)
Robert Hopkins (PLA)
Lou Hudson (PLA)
Warren Jabali (PLA)
Jimmy Jones (PLA)
Charles Kenaith (PLA)*
Freddie Lewis (PLA)
Jim Loscutoff (PLA)
Loyola of Chicago (TEA)
Billy Markward (CONT)*
George McGinnis (PLA)
Ray Mears (COA)*
Francis Meehan (PLA)
Donald “Dudey” Moore (COA)
Willie Naulls (PLA)
Philadelphia SPHAS (TEA)
Mel Riebe (PLA)
Glenn Roberts (PLA)
Holcombe Rucker (CONT)
Kenny Sailors (PLA)
Fred Schaus (PLA)*
Charlie Scott (PLA)
Kenny Sears (PLA)
Frank Selvy (PLA)
George Senesky (PLA)
Paul Seymour (PLA)
Charles Siler (CONT)
Talvin Skinner (PLA)
Ken Suesens (PLA)
Tennessee A&I (TEA)
Dick Van Arsdale (PLA)
Tom Van Arsdale (PLA)
Willie Wise (PLA)
Max Zaslofsky (PLA)
Early African-American Pioneers Committee Nominations
Clarence “Puggy” Bell
Sonny Boswell
Zack Clayton
Chuck Cooper
Bill Garrett
Inman Jackson
Clarence “Fats” Jenkins
Bucky Lew
Davage “Dave” Minor
Hudson Oliver
Al “Runt” Pullins
James “Pappy” Ricks
Paul Robeson
Eyre Saitch
William “Wee Willie” Smith
Contributor Committee Nominations
Marv Albert
Al Attles
Dick Baumgartner*
Marty Blake
Vic Bubas
Wayne Duke
David Falk*
Harry Glickman
Marty Glickman
Curt Gowdy
Tim Grgurich
Robert Indiana*
Mannie Jackson
Tom Jernstedt
Johnny “Red” Kerr
John Kline
Red Klotz
Jerry Krause
Bobby Lewis*
Jack McCloskey
Johnny Most
Dennis Murphy
Joe O’Toole
Billy Packer
Dee Rowe*
Zelda Spoelstra
Jim Valvano
Donnie Walsh
Frank Walsh
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us online: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall #17HoopClass
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA
Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact:
Nicole Taylor, Position Sports
480-861-2442
nicole.taylor@positionsports.com