Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade headline Naismith Hall of Fame's Class of 2023
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was officially announced at the Final Four on Saturday and it is a loaded one.
Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade, each legends with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat, lead the way among players. The addition of Pau Gasol and Tony Parker alongside Nowitzki also means the class will feature three of the greatest European players ever.
Between that quartet of players alone, you have 39 NBA All-Star selections, 10 NBA championships and five Olympic medals.
The most legendary figure to be inducted, though, is arguably San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history and a five-time champion. His former assistant, current Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, will also be inducted for her playing career in the WNBA, though her work as a coach could end up being worthy in its own right.
The addition of Popovich and Parker also completes the Spurs dynasty's move to the Hall of Fame, with Tim Duncan earning induction in 2020 and Manu Ginobili in 2022.
Coaches Gene Bess, Gary Blair, David Hixon, Gene Keady and Jimmy Valvano also got the call.
The 1976 Olympic women's basketball team, which won the silver medal in its first Olympics appearance, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to the 1976 Olympic Women's Basketball Team who won the silver medal in the inaugural appearance for Women’s Olympic Basketball, setting the standard for future generations of American women’s basketball players. #23HoopClass pic.twitter.com/uiKp0LvODS
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 1, 2023
The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks (1998-2019)
2011 NBA champion
2007 NBA MVP
2011 NBA Finals MVP
14-time NBA All-Star
Sixth on NBA's all-time scoring list (31,560 points)
Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat (2003-2016, 2018-19), Chicago Bulls (2016-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18)
Three-time NBA champion (2006, 2012, 2013)
2006 Finals MVP
13-time NBA All-Star
2009 NBA scoring champion
Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
2008 Olympic gold medalist, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist
Pau Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies (2001-08), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-2014), Chicago Bulls (2014-16), San Antonio Spurs (2016-19), Milwaukee Bucks (2019)
Two-time NBA champion (2009, 2010)
Six-time NBA All-Star
2002 NBA Rookie of the Year
2006 FIBA World Cup gold medalist, three-time Olympic medalist
Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs (2001-2018), Charlotte Hornets (2018-19)
Four-time NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
2007 NBA Finals MVP
Six-time NBA All-Star
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs (1996-present)
Five-time NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Three-time NBA Coach of the Year
NBA all-time wins leader (1,363)
Becky Hammon
As player: New York Liberty (1999-2006), San Antonio Stars (2007-14)
As coach: San Antonio Spurs (2014-2022), Las Vegas Aces (2022-present)
Six-time WNBA All-Star
2007 WNBA assists leader
First female full-time assistant coach in NBA history
2022 WNBA champion
2022 WNBA Coach of the Year
Gene Keady
Western Kentucky (1978-80), Purdue (1980-2005)
Seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year
Six-time Big Ten champion
17 NCAA Tournament appearances
Gene Bess
Three Rivers Community College (1971-2021)
All-time winningest college coach (1,300 wins)
Two-time junior college national champion (1979, 1992)
Gary Blair
Stephen F. Austin (1985-93), Arkansas (1993-2003), Texas A&M (2003-22)
2011 women's national champion
Two-time Final Four (1998-2011)
David Hixon
Amherst College (1977-2019)
Two-time Division III national champion (2007, 2013)
Two-time Division III Coach of the Year (2007, 2013)
1976 Olympic women's U.S. basketball team
Won silver medal in first Olympic women's basketball tournament
Jim Valvano
Johns Hopkins (1969-70), Bucknell (1972-75), Iona (1975-80), NC State (1980-90)
1983 national champion
Two-time ACC tournament champion (1983, 1987)
Two-time ACC regular season champion (1985, 1989)
Founded The V Foundation for Cancer Research before death in 1993