No game in our box scores falls on September 16. The nearest date before it · September 15, 2020: the Denver Nuggets visited the Los Angeles Clippers, in the playoffs. Denver Nuggets 104, Los Angeles Clippers 89. WWikipedia↗

From the vault · March 30, 2019 · 2019 NCAA tournament, Elite Eight: The Virginia Cavaliers beat the Purdue Boilermakers 80–75 in overtime in the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA tournament.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Every class from the first, in 1959. An inductee links to his page here when he is on file.

All · Players 209 · Coaches 107 · Contributors 80 · Referees 19 · Teams 10

Class	Inductee	As	Notes
2026	Mike D'Antoni	Contributor	2X NBA Coach of the Year (2005, 2017), Coach of "Seven Seconds or Less" Phoenix Suns that redefined NBA offenses, Assistant coach on gold-medal-winning 2012 Olympic team
2025	Micky Arison	Contributor	Owner of the Miami Heat, who led the franchise to three NBA championships (2006, 2012, 2013) and seven Eastern Conference titles.
2024	Doug Collins	Contributor	4X NBA All-Star, 1972 Olympic silver medalist, 1973 first team All-American. Long time NBA coach and TV analyst
2024	Herb Simon	Contributor	Owner of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. Longest tenured NBA and WNBA owner. 2 NBA Finals appearances (2000, 2025), 3 WNBA Finals appearances (2009, 2012, 2015), and 1 WNBA championship (2012).
2024	Jerry West	Contributor	2X NBA Executive of the Year, 6X NBA championships as executive with the Los Angeles Lakers, 2X NBA championships as executive with the Golden State Warriors.
2023	Jim Valvano	Contributor	1983 NCAA championship with North Carolina State, 1989 ACC Coach of the Year, 1993 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
2022	Delmer "Del" Harris	Contributor	Coach or assistant coach at the collegiate, professional and international levels from 1965 to 2012, including six NBA teams. Named 1995 Coach of the Year with the Los Angeles Lakers. John Bunn Award (2019).
2022	Lawrence "Larry" Costello	Contributor	Player and coach. Played for the Philadelphia Warriors, Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers and Wilkes-Barre Barons (1954–1968). Coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Does and Utica College (1968–1987). NBA champion as a player with the 76ers in 1967. NBA champion as a coach with t
2021	Howard Garfinkel	Contributor	Co-founder and longtime director of Five-Star Basketball Camp, which revolutionized scouting, recruiting, and coaching development. Five-Star's drill-station style became the standard for basketball camps and countless participants went on to play in the NBA. Prior to Five-Star, he started High Scho
2020	Patrick Baumann	Contributor	Secretary General of the FIBA (2003–2018). Primarily focused on the youth sector and the expansion of 3x3 basketball as a global game, while developing programs and events to grow basketball worldwide.
2019	Al Attles	Contributor	1975 NBA champion as a coach for the Warriors. No. 16 retired by the Golden State Warriors. No. 22 retired by North Carolina A&T. John Bunn Award (2014).
2018	Rick Welts	Contributor	President and chief executive officer of the Phoenix Suns (2002–2011), and the Golden State Warriors (2011–2021) Won 3 NBA championships as Warriors' President (2015, 2017, 2018) in a 5-year span (2015–2019).
2018	Rod Thorn	Contributor	Player, coach, general manager and league executive. 2002 NBA Executive of the Year. John Bunn Award (2015).
2017	Jerry Krause	Contributor	Was Executive Vice President & general manager of the Chicago Bulls during their Michael Jordan-led dynasty years. Won 6 NBA championships as Bulls' GM (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), and also won the NBA Executive of the Year Award twice (1988 & 1996).
2017	Mannie Jackson	Contributor	A Harlem Globetrotters star, He saved the team from extinction by buying it and becoming its CEO from 1993 to 2007. Mannie Jackson is the First African-American to own a major International sports and entertainment organization. He was also the Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fa
2017	Tom Jernstedt	Contributor	An NCAA administrator with a career of 38 years. He formerly played for Oregon Ducks as a quarterback. He helped in increasing the revenue of NCAA Basketball television contract from $1.2 billion when he arrived to $10.8 billion when he left in 2010. John Bunn Award (2001).
2016	Jerry Reinsdorf	Contributor	Owner and chairman of the Chicago Bulls since 1985, turning the franchise into a lucrative business that won six NBA Championships in the 1990s (1991–1993 and 1996–1998)
2015	George Raveling	Contributor	Longtime college coach and broadcaster who served on the boards of many major basketball organizations, among them the NABC, NCAA, USA Basketball, and Nike, also serving as Nike's director of grassroots and international basketball. John Bunn Award (2013).
2014	David Stern	Contributor	NBA commissioner from 1984 to 2014, during which time the league expanded by seven teams and signed several lucrative TV deals. Also responsible for the creation of the WNBA, the draft lottery, and several league outreach organizations. FIBA Hall of Fame (2016).
2013	Edwin Bancroft Henderson	Contributor	Dubbed the "Father of Black Basketball"; introduced the sport to the black community in Washington, D.C., in the early 20th century and formed many organizations to govern and promote the sport among African Americans
2013	Russ Granik	Contributor	NBA executive from 1976 to 2006, "involved in every major negotiation including television contracts, collective bargaining, and league expansion" during his tenure; also president of USA Basketball who helped oversee the inclusion of NBA players in the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team"
2012	Donald "Don" Barksdale	Contributor	First African American to be named to a major college All-America team (Helms Foundation, 1947, with UCLA); first African American to play for and win Olympic gold with Team USA (1948); first African American to play in the NBA All-Star Game (1953)
2012	Phil Knight	Contributor	Co-founder of Nike, "credited with expanding the game of basketball around the world through its innovative products and influential marketing" and "the first sports brand to incorporate top athletes to connect with consumers emotionally"
2011	Tex Winter	Contributor	Architect of the triangle offense; two NCAA Final Fours at Kansas State University (1958, 1964); UPI National Coach of the Year (1958); NABC president, 1982–83; nine NBA titles as an assistant (Chicago Bulls, 1991–1993, 1996–1998; Los Angeles Lakers, 2000–2002); John Bunn Award (1998)
2011	Tom "Satch" Sanders	Contributor	Player with the Boston Celtics (1960–73); 8 NBA championships (1961–66, 1968, 1969); later coach of the Celtics and Harvard University; key developer of the NBA's Rookie Transition Program and founder of many of the league's player programs; John Bunn Award (2007)
2010	Jerry Buss	Contributor	Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers (1979–2013) and Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2006); 10 NBA championships (Lakers, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987–88, 2000–02, 2009–10); 2 WNBA championships (Sparks, 2001–02)
2008	Richard "Dick" Vitale	Contributor	ESPN Broadcaster; Sports Personality of the Year by the American Sportscasters Association (1989); Curt Gowdy Media Award (1998); NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award (2000); Books include Time Out Baby!, Campus Chaos, Living a Dream and Holding Court
2008	William Davidson	Contributor	Principal owner, Detroit Pistons (1974–2009); NBA championships (Detroit Pistons, 1989–90, 2004); Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) championships (Detroit Shock, 2003, 2006, 2008); first owner in North American sports history to win championships in three different major professional le
2006	Dave Gavitt	Contributor	Coach, 1980 United States Olympic Team; five-time New England Coach of the Year; founder of the Big East Conference; John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award (1987); Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball Award winner (1993)
2005	Hubert "Hubie" Brown	Contributor	Coach of the Atlanta Hawks; New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies; Two-time NBA Coach of the Year (1978, 2004); ABA Championship (Kentucky Colonels, 1975); Curt Gowdy Media Award (2000); nominated for a Sports Emmy (1994, 1999)
2004	Jerry Colangelo	Contributor	Owner and GM of the Phoenix Suns; The Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993); youngest general manager in professional sports (1968); enshrined in Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame (1995); former chairman and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks; GM of the U.S. Men's National Bas
2003	Earl F. Lloyd	Contributor	CIAA "Player of the Decade" for the 1940s; NAIA Silver and Golden Anniversary Teams; first African American to play in an NBA game (1950); NBA Championship Team (1955); first African American bench coach (1968)
2003	Francis D. "Chick" Hearn	Contributor	Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster; Three-time National Sportscaster of the Year (1959, 1965, 1987); Curt Gowdy Media Award (1992); Emmy Award for Excellence in Basketball Coverage (1965); Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (1986)
2003	Meadowlark Lemon	Contributor	Longtime player for the Harlem Globetrotters; John Bunn Award (1998); played in more than 16,000 games; known as the "Clown Prince of Basketball"
2000	Charles Martin Newton	Contributor	NCAA Championship (Kentucky, 1951); Southeastern Conference (SEC) Coach of the Year (1972 and 1976 with Alabama, 1988 and 1989 with Vanderbilt); President, USA Basketball (1992–96); John Bunn Award (1997)
2000	Daniel "Danny" Biasone	Contributor	President and founder (Syracuse Nationals, 1946–63); inventor of 24-second shot clock (1954); NBA championship (Syracuse Nationals, 1955); John Bunn Award (1982)
1999	Fred Zollner	Contributor	Owner of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons/Detroit Pistons (1941–1974); NBL championship (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, 1944–45); key figure in the merger of the BAA and NBL to form the NBA; NBA Finals appearance (Fort Wayne Pistons, 1955–56); named "Mr. Pro Basketball" at the 1975 Silver Anniversary All
1999	Wayne R. Embry	Contributor	Five-time NBA All-Star (1961–65); NBA championship (Boston Celtics, 1968); first African American NBA general manager (Milwaukee Bucks, 1971–79); later GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers; The Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year (1992, 1998)
1991	Borislav "Boris" Stankovic	Contributor	Italian national championship (Oransoda team, 1968); oversaw the introduction of the three-point line in international competition; overseen reorganization of FIBA into zonal administration system; member of International Olympic Committee, FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
1991	Lawrence "Larry" Fleisher	Contributor	NBA Players Association general counsel (1963–87); developed free-agent system (1976); established antidrug agreement; involved in ABA–NBA merger
1991	Lawrence F. "Larry" O'Brien	Contributor	NBA Commissioner (1975–84); The Sporting News Sportsman of the Year (1976); created NBA college scholarship program (1980); developed antidrug program (1984); President, Basketball Hall of Fame (1985–87). John Bunn Award (1984).
1984	Clifford B. "Cliff" Fagan	Contributor	Executive Secretary of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (1947–57); Secretary of National Basketball Rules Committee (1958–77); executive director of the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (1958–77); member of U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors (1961–7
1984	Edward S. "Ed" Steitz	Contributor	Instrumental in the reinstatement of the dunk (1976); eliminated jump ball with the exception of the start of the game and overtime (1981); advocate of the 45-second shot clock and three-point shot (1985); NIT Selection Committee (1962–68), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
1983	Louis G. Wilke	Contributor	Chairman, AAU Basketball Committee, seven terms; chairman and team manager, Olympic Basketball Committee (1948); Executive board member, U.S. Olympic Committee (1956, 1960); Vice-chairman, Pan American Federation and FIBA Rules Committee (1962)
1982	Alva O. Duer	Contributor	NAIB Finals appearance (Pepperdine; 1945); Director and founder of NAIB/NAIA National Basketball Championship Tournament (1949–75); member of U.S. Basketball Association Ethics Committee (1960–64); Board of Directors, U.S. Olympic Committee
1981	Ferenc Hepp	Contributor	Member of FIBA Technical Commission (1948–56); President of Hungarian Basketball Federation (1954); member of FIBA Central Board (1956); member of FIBA Commission of Finances and Amateurism (1960–80), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
1981	James Walter Kennedy	Contributor	Public Relations Director (BAA/NBA; 1946–51); Public Relations Director (Harlem Globetrotters, 1950s); NBA Commissioner (1963–75); John Bunn Award (1975); NBA named their citizenship award in his honor
1980	Lester "Les" Harrison	Contributor	Organized Rochester Seagrams, Ebers, and Pros (1920s–40s); Owner of Rochester Royals (1945–1958); NBA championship (Rochester Royals, 1951); instrumental in formation of NBA (1949); organized Kodak Classic Collegiate Tournament (now Rochester Basketball Classic)
1979	John B. McLendon	Contributor	3 NAIA championship (Tennessee State; 1957–59); NAIA Coach of the Year (1958); 8 CIAA championships (1941, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952); first African-American coach with Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League, later coach of the Denver Rockets (ABA)
1979	Peter F. "Pete" Newell	Contributor	NCAA Championship (California; 1959); NIT Championship (San Francisco, 1949); Olympic Gold Medal (Rome, 1960) with the 1960 United States Olympic Team inducted as a unit in 2010; National Coach of the Year (1960), FIBA Hall of Fame (2009)
1975	Emil S. Liston	Contributor	2 Kansas Conference Championship (Baker University; 1930, 1937); President of Kansas Conference Coaches Association (1936–38); created National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB)/National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament (1937); served as NAIA executive secret
1974	Harry A. Fisher	Contributor	2 Helms Athletic Foundation Championship (Columbia; 1904–05); Helms Athletic Foundation All-America (Columbia; 1904–05); Eastern Intercollegiate League championship (Columbia; 1911–12, 1914); editor of Collegiate Guide (1905–15)
1974	Maurice Podoloff	Contributor	Served as NBA's first commissioner (1949–63); negotiated NBA's first TV contract (1954); arranged for construction and use of the first 24-second clock (1954); NBA's MVP Award was named in his honor until 2021.
1973	Elmer H. Ripley	Contributor	2 NCAA Tournament (Georgetown; 1941, 1943); Eastern Championship (Georgetown, 1943); Israeli Olympic team coach (Melbourne, 1956); Canadian Olympic team coach (Rome, 1960)
1972	Eddie Gottlieb	Contributor	BAA Championship (Philadelphia Warriors, 1947); NBA Championship (Philadelphia Warriors, 1956); Coach and Owner of Warriors (1946–55 and 1946–62); Chairman of NBA Rules Committee for 25 years; served as NBA schedule maker for 30 years. John Bunn Award (1979).
1972	Robert L. "Bob" Douglas	Contributor	Owned and coached New York Renaissance (1922–49); World Professional Championship with Renaissance (1939); known as "The Father of Black Professional Basketball"
1972	W.R. Clifford "Cliff" Wells	Contributor	50 district, regional, and invitational tournaments, including two championships (Indiana state; 1919, 1934); first President, Indiana High School Coaching Association; member of National Rules Committee (1952–56); first full-time executive secretary and director of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall
1971	Abraham M. "Abe" Saperstein	Contributor	Owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Saperstein's Globetrotters played before 55 million fans in 87 countries; the Globetrotters were part of the first basketball sellout ever at Madison Square Garden; led the Globetrotters to the World Professional Title (1940); won the International Cup with the Glo
1969	Charles H. "Chuck" Taylor	Contributor	Shoe salesman; Organized first basketball clinic at North Carolina State University (1922); developed the popular Converse Basketball Yearbook (1922); selected All-America teams (1932); The Chuck Taylor "All-Star" was the official shoe of the Olympics (1936–68)
1968	Clair F. Bee	Contributor	Influential in the development of 3-second rule; developed the 1-3-1 zone defense; National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship (Long Island University, 1939, 1941); Author, Chip Hilton's Sports Stories for Young People'; Coach of the Baltimore Bullets (1952–54)
1965	Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle	Contributor	Helms Athletic Foundation Championship (Butler, 1924, 1929); President, NABC (1954–55); chairman, Rules Committee of the National Basketball Committee of U.S. and Canada; coached the Great Lakes Navy teams during World War II
1965	Walter A. Brown	Contributor	President of the Boston Garden (1937–64); founded the Boston Celtics (1946); Celtics owner (1946–64); spearheaded the formation of the NBA (1949); President of the International Ice Hockey Federation
1965	William G. "Bill" Mokray	Contributor	Started concept of college basketball doubleheaders at the Boston Garden (1944–45); first Chairman of the Hall of Fame Honors Committee (1959–64); owned the world's largest basketball library; considered the number-one authority on the game's history
1964	Edward S. "Ned" Irish	Contributor	Basketball director, Madison Square Garden (1934); integral in formation of BAA (1946); founded the New York Knicks (1946); President, New York Knicks (1946–74)
1964	John W. Bunn	Contributor	Coached Stanford to Pacific Coast Conference championships (1936–38); Helms Athletic Foundation Championship (Stanford, 1937); chairman, Basketball Hall of Fame (1949–63); Editor, College Guide and Official Rules Interpreter (1959–60). John Bunn Award (1973).
1964	R. William Jones	Contributor	Co-founded the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) (1932); organized men's and women's European Championships (1935–63); organized men's and women's World Championships (1950–63); organized Olympic Basketball Tournament (1936–60), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
1963	William A. Reid	Contributor	Director of athletics, University of Detroit (1919); Director of athletics, Colgate University (1936–55); President, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) (1944–45); Director ECAC Executive Council (1945–49)
1962	Lynn W. St. John	Contributor	Lobbied for formal national and international rules for amateur basketball for three decades; served on NCAA Rules Committee with James Naismith (1912–37); chairman, Rules Committee (1919–37); Member, Olympic Basketball Committee (1936)
1962	Pop Morgenweck	Contributor	Operated and coached professional teams in 14 cities in the National, New England, Western Massachusetts, Hudson River, Central, New York State, Inter-State, Metropolitan, Eastern States, and American leagues (1901–32); National League championship (Camden, 1904); Metropolitan League championships (
1961	Arthur A. Schabinger	Contributor	Officiated in the Missouri Valley Conference, Big Eight, Kansas and Missouri Conferences, and the national AAU championships; one of the founders of the NABC; author of the NABC's Constitution and By-Laws, and designer of its emblem; promoted the adoption of molded basketball by colleges
1961	Arthur L. Trester	Contributor	Commissioner of Indiana High School Athletic Association (1922–44); coach and referee in Indiana; known as the "Czar" of Indiana high school athletics
1961	John J. O'Brien	Contributor	President, Metropolitan Basketball League (1922–28, 1931–33); President and chairman of the board, American Basketball League (1928–31, 1933–53); dedicated to the advancement of professional basketball in the East; supporter of referees and one of the first league administrators to begin fining play
1960	Henry V. Porter	Contributor	First representative for high schools on the National Basketball Rules Committee; pioneered use of motion pictures to study proper playing techniques; edited the first high school rule book (1936); edited the first state high school association publication, the Illinois High School Athlete
1959	Amos Alonzo Stagg	Contributor	Played in the first public basketball game at Springfield and scored the team's only basket in a 5–1 loss; 7 Big Ten titles during late 19th century and early 20th century (Chicago)
1959	Edward J. "Ed" Hickox	Contributor	Represented New England in Olympic Trials (Springfield College, 1936); five New England championships (Springfield College); Board of Directors of Basketball Hall of Fame (1959–66); National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) historian (1944–66)
1959	Harold G. Olsen	Contributor	Big Ten Championships (Ohio State; 1925, 1933, 1939, 1944, 1946); helped found NCAA tournament (1939); Chairman of NCAA Rules Committee; first Coach of Basketball Association of America's (BAA) Chicago Stags (1946–49)
1959	James Naismith	Contributor	Physical education instructor (Springfield College, 1890–95); invented the game of "basket ball", (now called basketball); developed basketball's original 13 rules; physical education professor (Kansas, 1917–37), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007)
1959	Luther H. Gulick	Contributor	Head of Physical Education at School for Christian Workers (1887–1900); Chairman of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Basketball Committee (1895–1905)
1959	Oswald Tower	Contributor	Member of Basketball Rules Committee (1910–60); Editor of Official Basketball Guide (1915–60); official rules interpreter (1915–60); coach of Wilbraham (MA) Academy (1907–10)
1959	Ralph Morgan	Contributor	Founded Collegiate Basketball Rules Committee (1905); Secretary and Treasurer of Rules Committee (1905–31); Founded Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League (now the Ivy League) (1910); Secretary and Treasurer of Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League (1910–31)

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Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame