A fresh group of celebrated individuals will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during the approaching Saturday event, reinforcing the impact of some of the most significant figures in men’s and women’s basketball. For the men, the class includes Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, while the women’s side celebrates the induction of Maya Moore, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles. Joining them are NBA and former college basketball coach Billy Donovan, along with the entire 2008 USA men’s national team and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.
In anticipation of the event, we present a detailed look at the five players being honored.
Carmelo Anthony
Recognized as a 10-time All Star, six-time All-NBA selection, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Anthony has achieved remarkable accomplishments throughout his college, professional, and Olympic journey. Anthony’s single college season at Syracuse unfolded like a classic tale. As a freshman, he was considered a top prospect nationally, ranked either No. 1 or No. 2, depending on the recruiting source. He earned nearly every possible award in a remarkable freshman year, averaging 22.2 points and 10 rebounds to guide Syracuse to a national championship. His impressive season was so impactful that he was ranked fifth in CBS Sports’ evaluation of the most outstanding college basketball players of the past 25 years.
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Anthony replicated his impressive performance in the NBA, where he was selected third overall in the 2003 draft by the Denver Nuggets. He concluded his career with averages of 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds over 19 seasons with the Nuggets, Knicks, Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Lakers. While an NBA championship eluded him, Anthony accumulated significant accolades representing Team USA in four Olympic Games. He still holds the record for the most points scored in a single game by a Team USA member with 37, has participated in the second-most games, and is among only three players, including LeBron James and Kevin Durant, to have won four Olympic medals.
Dwight Howard
Aside from Shaquille O’Neal, Howard stood out as the most impactful traditional center of the last 25 years. Emerging in 2004 after transitioning from high school directly to the NBA, Howard was chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic and quickly became known for consistently achieving double-doubles. He is the only player in NBA history to have received the Defensive Player of the Year award three times consecutively, earned eight All-Star selections and eight All-NBA selections, and led the league in rebounding five times. Howard is perhaps most widely remembered by NBA enthusiasts for his Dunk Contest showings, notably winning the competition in 2008 with his memorable “Superman” dunk.
Howard’s career was marked by both triumphs and challenges, and it wasn’t until his second period with the Lakers that he realized his ultimate aspiration, securing a championship during the 2020 Orlando bubble. Howard also boasts a gold medal, earned with Team USA at the 2008 Olympics, also recognized as the “Redeem Team.”
Maya Moore
Very few basketball players, whether male or female, have achieved more success than Moore across all levels. A quick look at her Wikipedia page reveals an extensive list of accomplishments, both on and off the court. For simplicity, let’s mention some of the major highlights:
- Four-time WNBA champion
- Two-time Olympic gold medalist
- Two-time NCAA champion
- Two-time EuroLeague champion
- WNBA MVP
- WNBA Finals MVP
- Six-time WNBA All Star
- Five-time All-WNBA first team
- WNBA Rookie of the Year
- WNBA 20th Anniversary team
- WNBA 25th Anniversary team
And that is not even close to half of the honors to her name. The most astounding fact is that Moore accomplished all of this at the professional level in just eight years. Thus, she won a championship in 50% of her WNBA career. Very few players can claim that, with the most notable example being Bill Russell, who secured a title in all but two years of his 13-year career.
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Having achieved virtually every possible accomplishment in basketball, Moore stepped away from the sport in 2019 to dedicate herself to criminal justice reform. Initially considered a temporary break, Moore ultimately did not return to basketball and officially announced her retirement in January 2023. Throughout her basketball career, and even more so during her time away from the sport, Moore became a prominent advocate, playing a key role in the release of Jonathan Irons, who is now her husband. Irons had been wrongfully convicted of murder and served 22 years of a 50-year sentence. The Minnesota Lynx retired Moore’s No. 23 jersey in August 2024.
Sue Bird
From college to the professional ranks, Bird stands out as one of the most recognizable figures in women’s basketball. As a four-time WNBA champion and two-time NCAA champion, Bird’s long career — spending all 21 of her WNBA seasons with the Seattle Storm — is unparalleled. She is the only player in WNBA history to secure a championship in three different decades, becoming the oldest player to complete a full season at age 41 in 2022. She holds the record for the most WNBA games played ever at 580, leads the all-time assist chart with 3,234, and ranks ninth in total career points.
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No one has received more All-Star selections than Bird, who also ranks second in 3-pointers made and appears in the top 10 all-time for steals, fewest turnovers, and field goals made. While she never won an MVP award, her leadership was indispensable to the Storm’s four championship wins.
Sylvia Fowles
Only two players in WNBA history have been named Defensive Player of the Year four or more times: Tamika Catchings (5) and Fowles (4). Throughout her 15-year career, Fowles cemented her place as one of the most dominant centers in league history. She ranks second all-time in rebounds and fourth in blocks. A two-time WNBA champion and two-time Finals MVP, she also won a league MVP award, earned 11 All-Defensive honors, and was selected for eight All-Star appearances.
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She was a consistent member of the women’s Olympic team, earning gold medals five times for Team USA, and created a formidable trio with Moore and Seimone Augustus on the championship-winning Lynx teams. Both the Lynx and her alma mater, LSU, have retired Fowles’ No. 34 jersey. At LSU, she was a two-time All-American, named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year during her senior season.
