Reports surfaced on Tuesday detailing the prospective inductees for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, featuring an active coaching figure, two of the most distinguished WNBA athletes in history, and an iconic player from the Phoenix Suns franchise.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, along with Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, and Amar’e Stoudemire, are said to have been selected for this prestigious recognition.
Although Charania disseminated this information on Tuesday, the formal declaration is anticipated for Saturday. The names of those chosen will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 12 p.m. ET on that date. The actual enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for these individuals is slated for August 14th through August 15th.
Following a commendable 13-year career as an athlete, Rivers transitioned to become a prominent and enduring figure in NBA coaching. His initial tenure with the Orlando Magic showed promise, accumulating a 171-168 record across five seasons, but it was with the Boston Celtics that he truly solidified his coaching identity.
Throughout his nine campaigns directing the Celtics, the squad advanced to the postseason seven times. The organization reached the championship series twice, clinching the title in the 2007-08 season and experiencing a seven-game defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009-10 season.
Rivers subsequently coached the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons and the Philadelphia 76ers for three seasons, prior to taking the helm of the Bucks before the 2023-24 league year.
Over his 27-year career as a primary coach, Rivers boasts a .580 success rate. His total of 1,191 professional wins places him as the sixth most triumphant coach ever.
Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne: Icons of the WNBA
Universally acknowledged as among the preeminent WNBA athletes ever, Parker immediately shone as a standout performer upon her debut with the Los Angeles Sparks, having been the No. 1 overall selection. In her inaugural season, she claimed the MVP trophy and amassed numerous additional honors, such as being named Rookie of the Year, securing a spot on the first-team All-WNBA, and ranking fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year ballot.
Throughout her 16 seasons in the professional circuit, Parker consistently vied for the MVP title. She secured the award once more in 2013, and in eight distinct seasons, she concluded in the top five of the voting. Furthermore, her career saw her named to seven All-WNBA first teams, earn the Defensive Player of the Year honor, and clinch two WNBA championship titles.
Delle Donne, likewise, commenced her WNBA journey with extraordinary prowess. Over her initial seven seasons, she achieved almost unparalleled triumphs, claiming Rookie of the Year, earning two MVP accolades, receiving four selections to the All-WNBA first team, and securing a championship with the Washington Mystics.
Both the global COVID-19 health crisis and a debilitating back issue jeopardized an early conclusion to Delle Donne’s playing days. She chose not to participate in the 2020 ‘Wubble’ season because of Lyme disease and appeared in only three contests in 2021 following a back ailment that necessitated surgical intervention.
Notwithstanding the physical setback, she returned to compete for an additional two campaigns, earning another All-Star selection before departing from competitive play in 2024 and formally announcing her retirement in 2025.
A Distinguished Member of the Suns
Stoudemire represents the third individual in this cohort to be honored with the Rookie of the Year distinction. He launched his tenure with the Suns in an outstanding fashion, garnering MVP consideration in four of his nine years with the franchise and being named to the All-NBA team in each of those particular seasons.
His peak performance occurred during the 2004-05 campaign, where he recorded averages of 26 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks for the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ Suns, a squad that achieved 62 victories and advanced to the Western Conference finals.
He demonstrated comparable excellence in his inaugural year with the New York Knicks, securing an All-Star berth and another placement within the top 10 for MVP voting. While injuries plagued his time with the Knicks, Stoudemire ultimately proved to be an impactful reserve player and an intermittent starter for the squad.
The Suns officially retired Stoudemire’s jersey number 32 in 2024.
