Who are the finalists for 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class?

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists for 2023 were announced on Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah, to start the NBA All-Star Weekend. It was a star-studded lineup, with the full class scheduled to be announced later during the NCAA Final Four.

The finalists include legendary players such as Dwywane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was also nominated, while current Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon was nominated as a player.

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A total of 12 individuals were named as finalists for the 2023 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It comprises six players and as many coaches from men's, women's and college basketball.

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Who are the finalists for 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class?

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade is one of the headliners of the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists. Wade will likely get enshrined, given all of his accomplishments during his career.

Wade is a three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat. He's also a one-time NBA Finals MVP and a 13-time All-Star. He was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team and is arguably one of the top five shooting guards in league history.

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#2 Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki was honored earlier this season by the Dallas Mavericks with his statue outside the American Airlines Center. It's safe to assume that Nowitzki will not just be a finalist for the 2023 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He played 21 seasons for one team, which is an NBA record. He's a former NBA MVP, one-time NBA champion, one-time NBA Finals MVP and a 14-time All-Star. The Germany international is also often considered one of the greatest European players to have graced the NBA.

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#3 Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol of the LA Lakers

Pau Gasol played in the NBA for 18 seasons for five different teams. He was with the Memphis Grizzlies for the first six and a half years of his career. He was traded to the LA Lakers in 2008 and teamed up with Kobe Bryant to win two NBA championships.

Gasol is also a former Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star. His international career was full of accomplishments, including two silver Olympic medals, one bronze Olympic medal, one World Cup and three EuroBasket championships. He's a well-deserved finalist for the 2023 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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#4 Tony Parker

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs

Tony Parker might not have the star power of the other finalists of the 2023 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but he's certainly a winner. Parker is a four-time NBA champion, a one-time NBA Finals MVP and a six-time All-Star.

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#5 Gregg Popovich

Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs

Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest coaches in basketball history. He deserved his spot as a finalist for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Popovich has the most wins (1,358 and counting) in NBA history. He also led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA championships and Team USA to one Olympic gold medal.

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Other Nominees

Becky Hammon playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars

Other finalists for the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame include former WNBA stars Becky Hammon and Jennifer Azzi. Former Texas A&M Women's coach Gary Blair, longtime Kansas Women's coach Marian Washington, college basketball's all-time wins leader Gene Bess, Purdue's Gene Keady and Amherst College's David Hixon were also named as finalists.

ESPN's Holly Rowe is the recipient of the 2023 Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award, while Andscape's Marc J. Spears is the 2023 Curt Gowdy Print Media Awardee. CBS Sports College Basketball also received the 2023 Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award, and Tom Konchalski is the 2023 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Awardee.

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