The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes some of the biggest names in NBA history on an annual basis.
2020 was one of the most loaded classes ever. 2021 saw Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace and Chris Webber earn the prestigious honor. In 2022, Manu Ginobili headlines a group that includes Tim Hardaway, owner of one of the meanest crossovers we've ever seen.
Who's up next? There is no shortage of players still waiting for the Hall of Fame call, but new players become eligible for the first time every year.
What is the nomination process for the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Players need to be fully retired for four full seasons to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They can be considered for enshrinement in their fifth year of retirement.
For example, Ginobili last played in the NBA in the 2017-18 season. Having not played in 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, he was eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
A committee reviews and votes on each individual nominee. You can read more about the voting process here.
2023 Hall of Fame candidates
On Dec. 21, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced an impressive list of first-time nominees as players and coaches.
First-time player nominees:
- Pau Gasol
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Tony Parker
- Dwyane Wade
First-time coach nominees:
- John Beilein
- Jim Larranaga
- Gregg Popovich
Basketball Reference's model gives both Wade and Nowitzki a 100 percent probability of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It gives Parker 93.9 percent and Gasol 93.4 percent.
Click here for a full list of players whose final season in the NBA was 2018-19.
2024 Hall of Fame candidates
The 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame class isn't as star-studded, but it features one of the most exciting players in NBA history and two Defensive Player of the Year winners:
- Vince Carter (Raptors, Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Kings, Hawks)
- Joakim Noah (Bulls, Knicks, Grizzlies, Clippers)
- Tyson Chandler (Bulls, Hornets, Bobcats, Mavericks, Knicks, Suns, Lakers, Rockets)
- Jamal Crawford (Bulls, Knicks, Warriors, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Timberwolves, Suns, Nets)
- Kyle Korver (76ers, Jazz, Bulls, Hawks, Cavaliers, Bucks)
Basketball Reference's model gives Carter a 94.6 percent probability of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The site's model gives Noah, Chandler, Crawford and Korver each less than a 1 percent chance, potentially paving the way for someone who is already eligible to get the call.
Click here for a full list of players whose final season in the NBA was 2019-20.
Best players not in the Hall of Fame
Each of the next two years provides good opportunities for players already eligible to get their long-awaited Hall of Fame nod.
Tom Chambers holds the distinction of the highest all-time scorer among players eligible yet not in the Hall. Chambers (20,049) and Antawn Jamison (20,042) are the only eligible 20,000-point scorers not currently inducted in Springfield.
Here are the top players with the best chance of getting in according to the Basketball-Reference Hall of Fame model:
- Larry Foust — 94.2%
- Chauncy Billups — 84.4%
- Shawn Marion — 75.6%
- Amar'e Stoudemire — 72.9%
- Shawn Kemp — 38.4%
