Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Doc Rivers among 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame finalists
The road to basketball immortality made a fitting stop in Los Angeles on Friday, as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced its finalists for the Class of 2026. During a press conference at the Intuit Dome—the modern home of the Clippers—the committee revealed a star-studded list headlined by Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, and longtime head coach Doc Rivers.
For Blake Griffin, the announcement served as a poetic homecoming. The six-time NBA All-Star, who defined the "Lob City" era of the Los Angeles Clippers with his gravity-defying athleticism, is a finalist in his first year of eligibility. While Griffin eventually evolved into a cerebral playmaker with the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets, his legacy remains tethered to his explosive tenure in L.A., where he captured the 2011 Rookie of the Year award and the Slam Dunk Contest title. His selection as a finalist underscores a career that successfully bridged the gap between highlight-reel phenomenon and winning basketball.
Joining him is Candace Parker, a transformative figure who revolutionized the forward position in the women’s game. A two-time WNBA MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Parker’s résumé is unimpeachable. She remains the only player in WNBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008). Her unique distinction of winning championships with three different franchises—the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces—cemented her status as one of the greatest winners the sport has ever seen.
On the coaching front, Doc Rivers inches closer to Enshrinement after decades of patrolling the sidelines. Currently the winningest active head coach in the NBA, Rivers ranks sixth on the all-time wins list, recently surpassing George Karl. Best known for guiding the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, Rivers has remained a constant force in the league, recently adding the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup to his trophy case with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Class of 2026 inductees will be officially announced during the NCAA Final Four in April, with the Enshrinement ceremony scheduled for August in Springfield, Massachusetts.
For Blake Griffin, the announcement served as a poetic homecoming. The six-time NBA All-Star, who defined the "Lob City" era of the Los Angeles Clippers with his gravity-defying athleticism, is a finalist in his first year of eligibility. While Griffin eventually evolved into a cerebral playmaker with the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets, his legacy remains tethered to his explosive tenure in L.A., where he captured the 2011 Rookie of the Year award and the Slam Dunk Contest title. His selection as a finalist underscores a career that successfully bridged the gap between highlight-reel phenomenon and winning basketball.
Joining him is Candace Parker, a transformative figure who revolutionized the forward position in the women’s game. A two-time WNBA MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Parker’s résumé is unimpeachable. She remains the only player in WNBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008). Her unique distinction of winning championships with three different franchises—the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces—cemented her status as one of the greatest winners the sport has ever seen.
On the coaching front, Doc Rivers inches closer to Enshrinement after decades of patrolling the sidelines. Currently the winningest active head coach in the NBA, Rivers ranks sixth on the all-time wins list, recently surpassing George Karl. Best known for guiding the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, Rivers has remained a constant force in the league, recently adding the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup to his trophy case with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Class of 2026 inductees will be officially announced during the NCAA Final Four in April, with the Enshrinement ceremony scheduled for August in Springfield, Massachusetts.
