Celebrating the 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is set to welcome an extraordinary Class of 2025 during the enshrinement weekend of September 5-6. This year's inductees include NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, alongside WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles. Their contributions to the game have left an indelible mark, and their rankings among the all-time greats in their respective leagues are a testament to their impact.
Announced earlier this year on April 5, the class has been celebrated for its diversity and dominance across both professional leagues. Each player has carved out a unique legacy, from scoring titles to championship wins, making this one of the most notable classes in recent memory.
NBA Greats: Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard
In the NBA, Carmelo Anthony ranks as one of the league's most prolific scorers, sitting at ninth on the all-time scoring list with 28,289 points. His career spanned teams like the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, where he earned 10 All-Star selections and a scoring title in 2013. Anthony's choice of presenters, Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade, reflects the respect he commands among peers for his scoring prowess and influence on the game.
Dwight Howard, another titan of the NBA, dominated as a center with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, among others. Known for his defensive prowess, Howard secured three Defensive Player of the Year awards and led the league in rebounds five times. His enshrinement will be presented by Shaquille O'Neal, a fitting nod to Howard's impact in the paint, where he amassed 19,485 points and 14,627 rebounds over his career.
WNBA Icons: Bird, Fowles, and Moore
On the WNBA side, Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore form what many consider the most dominant trio in women's basketball history to be enshrined together. Sue Bird, with a record 13 All-Star selections, holds the WNBA's all-time assist record at 3,234 and won four championships with the Seattle Storm. Both Bird and Moore have chosen legendary coach Geno Auriemma as their presenter, highlighting their shared roots at UConn and their transformative impact on the game.
Sylvia Fowles, a powerhouse center for the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky, retired as the league's all-time leading rebounder with 4,006 boards and secured two MVP awards alongside four championships. Her dominance in the paint redefined the center position in women's basketball.
Maya Moore, though retiring early to focus on social justice initiatives, left an unmatched legacy with four championships in her first seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx and two MVP awards. Her career scoring average of 18.0 points per game places her among the elite offensive players in WNBA history, underscoring her profound influence both on and off the court.